"The First Incense", which was constantly turbulent before the release, failed to turn the tide after the release, the score was not high, and the complaints continued, among which, it was inexplicable that everyone invariably pointed out that Xu Anhua "misinterpreted" and "misread" Zhang Ailing.
Xu Anhua once said that movies are her favorites, and literature is her "mistress". Although it is a joke, the director's literary literacy and her preference for Zhang Ailing are beyond doubt. Can it be said that the problems that the majority of netizens see, but Xu Dao can't see? From Xu Anhua to Wang Anyi, their level is not as good as that of ordinary audiences?
It may not be that simple.
Ma Sichun is "carrying the pot" for the director?
Before the release, the biggest storm caused by "The First Burning Incense" was the "Zhang Ailing Quotes" made up by Ma Sichun on social media; later, the wave of publicity campaign launched by the film on the short video also played a completely counterproductive effect. Various "love and can't" trailers caused netizens to complain, thinking that the propagandists did not understand the text. Entering the theater, the audience was dumbfounded: it turned out that the movie really told the story of "love and can't". The trailer did not deceive people, and Ma Sichun did not misunderstand the director's intentions.
The film arranged a series of twists and turns for Ge Weilong not to return to Shanghai after all, so that she figured out that she wanted to stay in Hong Kong, compete for love, and let Georgie Qiao "marry the media". And Ge Weilong in the novel is not a little girl who only cares about love and does not understand the world, her tragedy does not come from the "love brain", on the contrary, it may be too sober. In the book, Ge Weilong can look at the eyes, speak the scene, and cope with complex interpersonal relationships. She did not return to Shanghai, because she was reluctant to live in her aunt's garden, dress, pomp and circumstance, absurd and rich. Perhaps, it is not Hong Kong that has changed her, but the paper drunk gold fan who has awakened the real her.
In Xu Anhua's film, Ge Weilong is a victim of love and a lamb to be slaughtered. The married life of Ge Weilong and Ge Qiqiqiao is the original plot of the movie, and it is also particularly "cruel". On the cruise ship under the sunset, Georgie Jo, Situ Xie, aunt Liang Tai, which one is not an "exploiter" on the emotional or material level? The husband flirts with various beautiful women, the aunt teaches Georgie Joe how to divorce, and the honeymoon also has to accompany Situ uncle... These bridges are emphasized in the video, and the director's intention is obvious.
At the end of the movie, Ge Weilong shouted outside the car: "I love you, you have no conscience." This line attracted bad comments, saying that Ma Sichun played the film as "painful youth", but perhaps this is the director's intention, so that the audience can recognize in Ge Qiqiao's thoughtful and heavy expression: even the prodigal son of this love scene cannot be indifferent to the tragedy of Ge Weilong.
Xu Anhua, who couldn't help himself
Xu Anhua's preference for Zhang Ailing, as we all know, her first two remakes are not "successful": first of all, "Love of the Fallen City" was made into a romantic and beautiful love in the true sense, and then "Half Life" was made into a love that was full of intestines.
Zhang Ailing expressed clearly: what bai tassels get is not love, and Fan Liuyuan is not really in love with white tassels, but people always need to live less lonely, "they see each other transparently", relying on the "understanding" of that "moment", it is better to say "forek", and sleep together indifferently. The so-called "love of the city" is only because a city has collapsed, completing a couple of men and women. Similarly, "Half-Life" is by no means an endorsement of love at first sight in the world. On the contrary, it wants to give all women a sneer of "unswerving chastity", turn the legendary "once in a lifetime" into a satire, and give all the lovers of "Lao Yan Flying" or "Fate without Distinction" a cold truth.
But the question is, such a Zhang Ailing, is Xu Anhua and Wang Anyi not as good as the majority of netizens to read and understand? The answer, of course, is no. It is completely possible to faithfully restore Xu Anhua, but she is not willing. Because the film is made "cruel" and "desperate", Xu Anhua is not the Xu Anhua we are familiar with.
In "Woman, Forty" and "Man Forty", the audience saw the most simple and simple life, and also saw the most intense and fiery emotions. The daily life and sadness and joy of ordinary little people, and the film of seeing warmth in the plain, is Xu Anhua's pursuit. No matter what kind of people they are, no matter what kind of things they encounter, Xu Anhua can always lean down to listen to their difficulties and understand their sufferings.
Therefore, we can always see the feelings of compassion in Xu Anhua's films. It's like the dialogue between Ge Weilong and Lu Zhaolin in this film. She knew where the cost of studying abroad came from, and he knew what her marriage was all about, but everyone had unspeakable grievances, so why debunk it? If Zhang Ailing's attitude towards men and women in the world is cold-eyed, then Xu Anhua has deeper sympathy for these involuntary people.
From this, we understand why Xu Anhua always has a "deviation" when adapting Zhang Ailing, and why Ma Sichun wants to perform "pain". In the movie, Liang Tai looks at Ge Weilong's grand wedding, her eyes are full of her own desolation, and in her subtle expression, it is all Xu Anhua's understanding and love for women.
Who does Zhang Ailing's right of interpretation belong to
Liu Zaifu said that there are two desperate writers in the history of literature. One is Zhang Ailing and the other is Lu Xun. Lu Xun wrote to resist despair; Zhang Ailing wrote, but fell into despair. The women in her pen do not "resist", do not "shout", only seek "life is stable". Therefore, Ge Weilong's fall was also depraved. Men and women in the diet were dragged by material things onto the established path and had nowhere to escape.
Ge Weilong loves Ge Qiqiqiao, but her love will inevitably deviate from the ideal form, which is the cruelty of life and the weakness of human nature. But do we have to accept such Zhang Ailing on the big screen? That Liang Tai may be another look, similar to Cao Qiqiao in "The Book of Golden Locks". They have long since lost their qualities such as kindness and simplicity, but they have vividly expressed their means, viciousness, jealousy, and selfishness. Even if it is Yu Feihong who plays her, it will cause the audience to be extremely disgusted.
Zhang Ailing said, "The subject matter of my writing is such an era, and I thought it would be more appropriate to use jagged contrasts. I use this technique to describe the memories of human beings living in all times, and in this way to give a revelation to the reality around me. In her eyes, women are like the eyes and eyes of Mrs. Liang's family, no matter how beautiful and intelligent, they cannot get rid of the fate of being played with and insulted. But after all, we no longer live in such an era where there is no hope and no way out, so today, we can only copy Zhang Ailing's words on the big screen?
Therefore, Xu Anhua's feelings about "love and not being able to" may only be a change in the aesthetic paradigm, and have nothing to do with the "right" and "wrong" of understanding.
Author| Li Qinyu Editor| Chen Kaiyi
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