Film and television adaptations of Chinese classical masterpieces are hot, but "Dream of Red Mansions" is constantly scolded.
A few years ago, a wave of remakes of classical Chinese classics swept in. Literary classics such as "Journey to the West" and "Romance of the Gods" have been put on the screen, setting off waves of movie-watching frenzy, and box office revenue has also reached an eye-popping height.
This fully demonstrates the potential market value of classic IP. However, in this prosperous scene that is blooming everywhere, only the eternal swan song of "Dream of Red Mansions" seems to have become an outlier - it is like a "forbidden area" for film and television adaptations, whenever someone proposes to remake a new version of "Dream of Red Mansions", it will always cause an uproar, and even lead to endless quarrels between you and me inside and outside the venue.
Take CCTV's 2010 remake of the TV series "Dream of Red Mansions" as an example, this project was initially targeted by director Hu Mei. However, on the issue of casting actors, Director Hu and the producer's opinions gradually drifted apart, and finally broke up.
Li Shaohong later took over the filming, but the result was a very poor reputation and criticism from the audience. has repeatedly hit a wall on the road to the adaptation of literary masterpieces, which seems to have become the fate of the classic masterpiece "Dream of Red Mansions".
It is destined to become the target of public criticism every time it is put on the screen, and no matter who takes over, it will be difficult to meet the audience's expectations as dense as snowflakes.
All indications show that the film and television adaptation of "Dream of Red Mansions" is magnificent and full of unknowns. Every attempt to restart this great cause has to face doubts and attacks from all sides.
However, it is such a masterpiece that has been completely presented after ups and downs that can better reflect the perseverance and perseverance of the creators. We sincerely hope that one day, this treasure of classical Chinese literature will be reborn in a new way, so that the world can re-understand the inspiration brought to us by this sad and joyful story.
Hu Mei directed the film version, proving her strength.
After withdrawing from the filming of the CCTV version of "Dream of Red Mansions" in 2010, director Hu Mei has always had a strong idea burning in her heart, eager to one day shoot this masterpiece of Chinese classical literature according to her own ideas.
After years of painstaking planning and brewing, the film version of "Dream of Red Mansions: The Golden and Jade Relationship" directed by her was finally officially completed this year, like a sprout breaking through the ground, heralding the arrival of hope.
Previously, she won the love of the audience in the mainland with many hit dramas such as "The Emperor of the Han Dynasty" and "Qiao's Courtyard", and director Hu Mei has accumulated rich experience in filming costume dramas.
For her, directing "Dream of Red Mansions" is undoubtedly a good opportunity to prove her strength and respond to the doubts of the outside world over the years. Although he has less experience in the film field, this is testing Director Hu's courage and courage to face difficulties and dare to break through.
It can be seen from the released trailer that her careful presentation and restoration of the allusions to the original work reveal her devotion and love for this literary masterpiece. We sincerely hope that Director Hu can successfully make a high-quality movie "Dream of Red Mansions", present an audio-visual feast to the audience, and interpret this amazing masterpiece with mixed joys and sorrows in his own way.
The trailer is suspected of spoilers and different endings, which is instructive.
In the first trailer, there is a scene that is suspected to be "Daiyu fell into the water and died", which caused widespread discussion. This shot seems to reveal that the movie version will choose an alternative ending that is different from its peers.
In this regard, some scholars in the academic community have proposed a variety of possible original endings. Among them, the plot of Daiyu committing suicide by throwing herself into the water after being designed to be killed is the most inspiring. If the movie version really adopts such an alternative ending, it is bound to have a huge impact on the audience.
is different from the happy comedy ending written by Gao Yi in the last 40 episodes, the ending of Daiyu's tragic fate is more in line with the tragic tone of the original work. It presents the tragic process of a talented woman with an ill-fated fate who is going to destruction under the shackles of feudal etiquette and religion, and it can touch the emotions of today's people even more.
At the same time, this kind of ending will also cause the audience to reflect: a gentle and steady woman will not escape the tragic fate of being forced to do justice after all.
If the movie version really adopts such a radical ending, I believe it will set off a fierce discussion, and it may also inspire people to reflect on the various shortcomings of feudal etiquette. It may also inspire reflection on the status of women.
This is exactly what good literature should have. We expect the film version to present a cutting-edge perspective that is in line with the spirit of the original work, give the audience a new ideological impact, and make this eternal swan song glow with new era value and vitality.
is worried about director Hu Mei's film strength, and looks forward to the coming out of a masterpiece.
We have expectations for director Hu Mei's strength and courage, but we also have some worries. The original chapter of "Dream of Red Mansions" is vast, and it needs to be greatly cut before it can be adapted into a movie.
However, with only 115 minutes in length, it is really worrying whether it can cover the essence and theme of the original work. At the same time, Director Hu does not have a lot of experience in the film field, and the two films she directed before were relatively average at both the box office and word of mouth.
And "Dream of Red Mansions" is undoubtedly a more difficult project and will face a more severe test. We can't be sure that Director Hu will be able to complete this challenge and produce a masterpiece that will satisfy the audience.
But judging from the conception of the trailer alone, Director Hu's understanding of the original work has reached a very high level. Her meticulous restoration of the eight classic scenes shows her intentions and respect.
We sincerely hope that Director Hu can successfully break through himself this time, overcome difficulties, and make a "Dream of Red Mansions" movie with elegant temperament and creative intentions. If she can show the beauty of the picture and narrative ability that was difficult to achieve in previous TV dramas, she will definitely bloom the charm of this treasure of classical Chinese literature to the fullest and present it in front of the audience.
We are waiting for that moment to come, waiting for a masterpiece that can be called a swan song for the ages.
The adaptation of classical literature should have both connotation and resonance.
If you want to adapt a masterpiece of classical literature, you need to retain the connotation of the original work while resonating emotionally with modern audiences. If it is kept as it is, it is difficult to touch the people of today;And over-integrating the elements of the present, it is easy to deviate from the fundamental spirit of the original work.
Therefore, the difficulty of adaptation lies in grasping the balance between the two.
Judging from the trailer, director Hu Mei has carefully reconstructed the details of the original work in terms of visual presentation to show respect for the original work. At the same time, if she chooses the plot of Daiyu's forced righteousness, this also has a strong echo with contemporary values.
We hope that she will be able to grasp this balance, not only faithfully presenting a complete world of "Dream of Red Mansions", but also giving it new era value and vitality.
If successful, the film will not only become a masterpiece in film history, but also awaken the audience's recognition and pride in the treasures of Chinese culture. It will show that classic works can still provide emotional power to modern people, inspiring us to look at life and reflect on society.
If contemporary filmmakers can carry on the past and bring new ideas to excellent classical works, they can become a new force in the inheritance of national culture. We sincerely hope that Director Hu's "Dream of Red Mansions" can successfully open a precedent and lead the revival of a number of excellent classical IP film and television works.