Rebirth of Siheyuan starts in the 1980s

After the break, Cao Zhiqiang once again plunged into intense shooting.

How should I put it, if on the first day of filming, Cao Zhiqiang was still a little unfamiliar and uncomfortable with shooting, then after three consecutive days of shooting, he was completely in the zone, and could even be said to be acting crazy.

That state was very strange, as if Cao Zhiqiang suddenly turned into two people.

One is himself, also called the id, who is still his original self.

The other one is the character Xia Qiu in the play, a character imagined and created by Cao Zhiqiang.

Although Xia Qiu is a character created by Cao Zhiqiang and draws on many film and television characters he has seen in his previous life, he also adds something of his own.

For example, some of Cao Zhiqiang's little actions as a child in his previous life, as well as some of his feelings when he was young, were all incorporated into the character of Xia Qiu, and then released in the process of acting with Zhu Lin and others.

No wonder I saw many people say in my previous life that being an actor is very satisfying, not in terms of how much money you make, but in terms of the process of filming.

Cao Zhiqiang doesn't know what it feels like to play a supporting role or a walk-on role. Anyway, if you play the leading role, it feels quite satisfying.

It feels really good to temporarily assume someone else's persona, act out someone else's life, and then act opposite a beautiful woman.

Among them, the process of acting with Zhu Lin was the most enjoyable, because acting with Zhu Lin is mainly about love scenes.

The ambiguous feeling of thinking but not daring to say it, and the tangled mentality of just wanting to see the other person one more time, and just want to stay with the other person for a while longer, are not ordinary itches.

Even though it's an act, it's very refreshing to get into it.

It's just that this kind of pleasure is not the kind of pleasure that lasts all the way to the end, but a kind of secret pleasure.

No wonder everyone likes to play ambiguously.

This kind of ambiguous feelings that are tugging at each other and getting confused, are really fascinating.

Apart from the emotional scenes with Zhu Lin, Cao Zhiqiang's other emotional scenes are mainly about family and friendship.

The family line mainly refers to the plot of him and his two sisters relying on each other, which is mainly reflected in the beginning, middle and end of the film.

The overall scenes of interaction with the two sisters are actually not many, but they are all important.

It can be said that the two sisters are actually one of the constraints, or one of the obstacles, to the male protagonist.

In this drama set by Cao Zhiqiang, although there are a lot of narrations, the background of Cao Zhiqiang is mainly explained clearly, but the explanation of the female teacher Wen Xue played by Zhu Lin is deliberately vague.

For example, throughout the entire film, we only know that Wenxue comes from a family of intellectuals, but the specific identity of Wenxue’s parents and whether she has any brothers or sisters are not mentioned in the film.

This is mainly because Wenxue herself doesn't mention it. She never mentions her family's affairs.

But from her words, deeds, and the amount of food and clothing she has, we can see that her family conditions are unusual. Even from the fluent Japanese she occasionally speaks, she even knows the words in the "Man'yoshu" from the Japanese Poetry Switchboard.

Poetry also contains many unusual guesses.

In other words, the definition of Wenxue is elegance with mystery. She is a person who looks gentle and approachable, but is actually very difficult to get in touch with others. She is aloof at heart.

Deliberately blurring Wen Xue's background, just like the blank space in a painting, can give people more room for imagination and make this love purer and more elusive.

In other words, let’s not talk about the age and identity gap between the male protagonist and the female protagonist. Simply looking at the background gap between the two, the difference is not even a little bit different.

Normally, it is impossible for these two people to be together.

However, Xia Qiu, played by Cao Zhiqiang, has two more sisters as burdens. It seems like a burden, but it is actually a step, or an excuse.

Because on the surface, the reason that prevents Xia Qiu from following Wen Xue is that Xia Qiu has to take care of her two younger sisters, but in fact this is not the case.

If you think about it carefully, you will find that even if Xia Qiu is an adult, even if Xia Qiu is single without the burden of two younger sisters, then when Wen Xue chooses to leave, Xia Qiu will not be able to accompany him.

Because Wenxue is going back to his hometown, he must face Wenxue's family, and a family like Wenxue cannot tolerate a good-for-nothing low-class student like Xia Qiu.

It can be said that when Cao Zhiqiang made this movie, he carefully and deliberately buried many details in it, and then used family affection and love as the main thread to suppress the hidden dark sides and make the overall style appear bright.

, making this tragic love full of more uncertainty, or in other words, full of hope and possibility.

Therefore, in the scenes between Cao Zhiqiang and his two younger sisters, Yu Feihong and Qiao Simei, he showed the image of a somewhat clumsy but very responsible big brother.

My mother died early, and my alcoholic father suddenly ran away with the widow, leaving their three children alone, forcing the eldest brother to take on the responsibility of raising the family in advance.

Such a setting is both down-to-earth and sympathetic.

The eldest brother knew that his father was disappointed and despaired after he ran away, and finally he was reborn from despair, took on the responsibility of raising the whole family, and started repairing leather shoes for others while studying. How could he not arouse sympathy and pity?

As for the two younger sisters, they are different.

The eldest sister Xia Hua, played by Yu Feihong, is a very sensible character from the beginning.

After my father ran away with someone, I accidentally learned that my eldest brother secretly went out every night to set up a stall to repair leather shoes in order to support the family.

However, after knowing that her eldest brother was shining shoes, Xia Hua did not say anything or feel embarrassed. Instead, in order to give her eldest brother face, she pretended not to know. Not only did she help with housework every day, but she also helped him cover up. She is a very sensible and very sensible person.

An intimate person who understands the pain of my elder brother and often chats with him.

The little sister Xia Yue played by Qiao Simei is a child character who doesn't understand anything at the beginning.

Because when her father ran away with the widow, Xiayue was still young and not sensible, so her eldest brother and second sister always lied to her, saying that her father had gone to other places to do big business. As a result, Xia Yue always thought that her father was very powerful.

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Because she was so well protected by her eldest brother and second sister, Xia Yue didn't know how to restrain herself at first. She spent a lot of money on food and drink. She cried frequently and said she wanted to go to Zhao's father.

To put it simply, Xia Yue was an annoying character at the beginning.

But soon, after a conflict, Xia Qiu told the truth in frustration, and then Xia Yue ran out of the house crying, and then the whole family went to look for her sister.

When the sister is found, it is a story of the family reconciling and overcoming the difficulties together.

It can be said that the interaction with the two sisters is an interaction of family affection, and it is also the process of Xia Qiu gradually becoming an adult from a child.

If we say that meeting Wen Xue and getting to know each other made Xia Qiu understand the sacrifice in love.

Then the interaction and communication with her two sisters made Xia Qiu understand the responsibilities in family relationships.

When there is a conflict between love and family affection, how to choose is a difficult problem.

From a personal point of view, Xia Qiu certainly prefers Wen Xue and longs for love.

But from a family perspective, Xia Qiu cannot give up his two sisters. He must shoulder the responsibility of supporting the family.

On the surface, this is a conflict between family affection and love, and a conflict between personal desire and personal responsibility.

But in fact, the conflicts inside are not limited to this, but also include conflicts of status and human relationships.

However, the conflict of status is hidden and not as obvious as the conflict of family affection and love.

In the interaction with the two sisters, it was actually Yu Feihong who had the most drama with Cao Zhiqiang, not Qiao Simei.

In addition to the fact that Qiao Simei is too young, has no acting experience, and is not suitable for too many scenes, this is also mainly due to the character.

Qiao Simei's setting is that of a child who is naughty first and then becomes sensible. She is a simple child, highlighting cuteness and innocence.

Yu Feihong is different. She is set as a precocious girl and is the strategist behind Xia Qiu, the eldest brother. Xia Qiu will tell her many things that cannot be said to others.

Therefore, there will be many separate dialogue scenes between Cao Zhiqiang and Yu Feihong, highlighting Xia Hua, the eldest sister, who is smart and cunning.

For example, I support my eldest brother to pursue love bravely, I support my eldest brother to express his love to the other person, I support my eldest brother to ignore worldly opinions, etc., all of which are said through the mouth of my eldest sister.

To a certain extent, the eldest sister Xia Hua is actually the mouthpiece of some viewers, saying what many people want to say.

Moreover, there are many golden sentences in it.

For example, when Xia Hua encouraged her eldest brother Xia Qiu, she said: "If you don't give it a try, how will you know it won't work?"

There are others like: "As long as you persist and don't give up, there is always hope of success!"

"If you like someone, does it have to be so troublesome?"

"Brother, come on, I will always support you!"

In fact, Yu Feihong's role was originally not that many. It was Yu Feihong who asked for more scenes, and Cao Zhiqiang also felt that adding some family scenes would not only extend the movie time, but also enrich more content and make the characters more full-bodied, so he agreed.

Therefore, Cao Zhiqiang and Yu Feihong have more scenes.

Even Cao Zhiqiang still has a feeling.

That is, if we continue to add scenes to her like this, then this drama may become The West Chamber.

He is the scholar, Zhu Lin is the young lady, and Yu Feihong is the matchmaker.

Therefore, in order to make the drama less lengthy and not to dominate the drama and let the family relationship take over the love, Cao Zhiqiang later decisively rejected many of Yu Feihong's requests and reduced the family interaction between him and his two sisters.

After all, the theme of this drama is pure love, not family affection.

It's okay to add a little family drama, but it's not good to add too much.

As for friendship, that is, the friendship between classmates and neighbors, the portrayal here is relatively weak.

Moreover, Cao Zhiqiang did not deliberately portray friendship as lofty, but more down-to-earth, or more realistic.

Movies from this period often like to portray how kind and friendly neighbors are and how they like to help others, but in fact this is not the case.

Just look at the situation in the old courtyard house and you will know that this kind of situation where people are on guard against each other and plot against each other is the true state of the human world.

As for the friendship between classmates, Cao Zhiqiang and the male protagonist Xia Qiu are set as a person who does not like to socialize and usually has few friends. The only friend around him is a childhood friend and classmate with whom he has a decent relationship.

Moreover, through the words of his classmate, he also talked about some of the school’s realities.

That is, in school, only those students who study well are the influential figures in the school and class. Whether it is teachers or students who are average in study, they usually hang around those students who study well.

As for students like them who do not study well, naturally no one cares about them, no one pays attention to them, and most of them fend for themselves.

The teachers of this period may have really good moral ethics, but teachers also have preferences.

Teachers will naturally care more about students who study well and are sweet-mouthed.

As for students who don't study well and are usually bored, the teacher will naturally care less.

In other words, in school, classmates are also divided into three, six, and nine grades.

Maybe people don't divide you into different classes based on your parents' status, but they do divide you into different classes based on your academic performance.

Those who learn best are on one level, those who learn secondarily are on one level, and those who learn poorly are on another level.

Different classes are clearly distinguished, and it is basically more difficult for the lower class to integrate into the upper class.

These things are actually reality.

It's just that Cao Zhiqiang showed these realities in a very subtle way. He didn't say it explicitly, but quietly showed this reality through small and unconvincing remarks and real-life examples.

For example, after Xia Qiu found out about the male classmate who framed Teacher Wen Xue, she plucked up the courage to go to him and ask him to tell the truth and apologize, but he was immediately ridiculed by him.

The biggest reason is not that the male classmate is shameless, but that the male classmate is a good classmate who studies well and is very different from Cao Zhiqiang in class.

Therefore, even for the sake of face and identity, the male student who stole Teacher Wenxue's bra and made Teacher Wenxue fall into rumors and slanders would not agree. After Xia Qiu continued to ridicule him, he became angry and found someone to beat Xia Qiu together.

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Throughout the whole process, the cowardice and hypocrisy of the students were vividly displayed.

At the same time, it also shows that students who study well are not necessarily students with good moral character.

In other words, Cao Zhiqiang hid metaphors everywhere in this movie. In the 21st century, this would definitely be a bad movie.

But in this era, it is synonymous with rich content and profound meaning.

Today's movies, especially feature films, are all about depth.

If you don't have any metaphors, you'd be embarrassed to tell people that your film is a feature film.

Of course, Cao Zhiqiang hides not only ordinary moral issues, but also the seven deadly sins of arrogance, jealousy, rage, laziness, greed, gluttony and lust, which is a more Western metaphor.

For example, the bad classmate's father was a fat cook who liked to take home meals from the government. He also liked to eat and drink too much. He was also in a relationship with a widower, which corresponded to gluttony and greed. He was obviously based on Fool Zhu as his prototype.

The mother of the bad classmate is obviously synonymous with anger and arrogance.

As for the bad classmate who stole Teacher Wenxue's bra but didn't dare to admit it afterwards, it was obviously lust, jealousy and laziness.

In short, Cao Zhiqiang never thought that he could let various actors express what he wanted to express in a movie just like writing and painting.

This feeling of commanding others and performing what you want is really not an ordinary feeling, it even gives you a feeling of being in control of your life.

No wonder they say that movies are the director’s world, and it’s true.

The reason is that the plot of the movie is more condensed and more coherent, and it is a coherent movie-watching experience, so it is more about the director's integration ability.

Unlike TV dramas, which are shot one episode after another, it depends more on the screenwriter's scripting ability. The quality of the director cannot be said to be unimportant, but it is not that important.

Movies are different. The director controls the camera and can change the script and characters at will. He has absolute power.

But the most dominant one is Cao Zhiqiang's state, that is, producer, director, screenwriter, and starring, all in one!

The most inconspicuous but most important role here is actually the producer.

Because as the producer, he is responsible for distributing the money.

And everyone is willing to come over to shoot because they are doing it to make money, and have no other unnecessary thoughts.

In this situation of controlling the money bag, Cao Zhiqiang has the highest decision-making power, and naturally has the right to speak on the entire set.

Once you have the right to speak, and you have a good director and actors to assist you, and the other crew members are obedient, then everything will come naturally.

Therefore, even though this was Cho Chi-keung's first attempt at making a movie, since he had a high position from the beginning and had a different status from the beginning, he also enjoyed the supreme treatment from the beginning.

As a result, the entire crew seemed to be revolving around him, as if he was supporting the entire crew on his own.

This is of course an illusion, reality is not like that.

But to a certain extent, it is not unreasonable to say that one person supports the entire crew.

After all, from the beginning, Cao Zhiqiang was actually responsible for all the expenses of the entire crew.

The one who gives the money is the boss, I am honest and don’t bully you.

This also reminded Cao Zhiqiang of Aunt Ximen.

No wonder Aunt Ximen was so handsome at that time, and she could act as the most beautiful woman with a group of young talents at that time. Isn't it because she was the financial sponsor?

The sponsor’s father is the real father!

In this way, in this situation where the whole crew is almost talking, or a crew revolves around one person, the filming process is quite fast.

It was originally planned to take one month, but actually it only took 21 days to complete the filming of the entire movie.