The movie "Stage" held its premiere in Beijing a few days ago. This is Chen Peisi's first film directorial work in 32 years. It is adapted from his play of the same name. It incorporates the ups and downs of comedy into the audio-visual expression of the movie, while still retaining the dense lines and dramatic tension of the play. It is compact and even makes people feel overwhelmed.
Poster of "Stage"
The film tells the story of Hou Xiting (Chen Peisi), the owner of the Wuqing Troupe, who brought his troupe to Beijing for a performance during the war period of the Republic of China. Dashang'er (Huang Bo), a shop assistant, was mistaken by Hong Dashuai (Jiang Wu) as the famous actor Jin Xiaotian (Yin Zheng) and was asked to perform in "Farewell My Concubine".
In the movie, the old Beijing city is full of quaint street scenes. In a theater where various characters appear, a more exciting "play" than the upcoming "Farewell My Concubine" is being performed. "Stage" creates a strong sense of suspense and comedy through dense misunderstandings, dislocations, and identity reversals. The funny comedy part does not cover up the seriousness of the story itself. Behind the laughter is a questioning of the relationship between power and art. The self-consolation of "we have to survive" and the entanglement of "this play cannot be changed" in front of the statue of the founder show how the purity, rules and dignity of art are distorted and forced to compromise in the face of power.
Premiere scene
At the premiere, Huang Bo talked about the role of "Dasheng'er". He said that this role is at the key point of dislocation. "Usually, it takes a lot of effort to play a leading role, because you have a lot of emotions and a lot of ties. But in "Stage", Dasheng is silly, a drama fanatic, and then he gets rich, just like being suddenly pulled into the audience of Jay Chou's concert and becoming the protagonist without any burden. He is a silly drama fanatic and it's fun to play!"
Huang Bo
In "Stage", Jiang Wu created a very complex and very funny image of a warlord. He said that he was asked to play Marshal Hong in a drama ten years ago. Ten years later, he got the script and saw that the role was more solid. He felt that "I have to do it". "Marshal Hong's domineering and cute energy is also very refreshing to play."
The two young actors Yin Zheng and Yu Shaoqun have played important roles in this film, especially the famous actor Jin Xiaotian played by Yin Zheng. As the "king with the strength to pull up mountains and the spirit to conquer the world" of this troupe, his final performance almost determines whether the story can be established in the end, and whether the metaphor of "combining seriousness with humor" can be perfectly completed and accepted and perceived by the audience. Yin Zheng talked about this role on the spot, "He really wants to play the role but not his life."
Yin Zheng as Jin Xiaotian
Yu Shaoqun as Feng Xiaotong
Yu Shaoqun, who plays "Yu Ji" Feng Xiaotong, believes that from director Chen Peisi we can see that when doing art or being an artist, one must have something that he or she insists on.
The premiere was also star-studded. Chen Peisi's old partner, actor Zhu Shimao, cried the most directly: "Peisi, I have never cried for you before, this is the first time", "'This is for our survival', this line made me cry". Yu Yue, the chief screenwriter of the drama "Stage", shared: "The gap between stage play and film is too difficult to cross, but "Stage" has crossed it vividly. Not only did it not lose the soul of the original work, but it also used film techniques to make it brilliant. Peisi's montage is wonderful."
Singer and musician Cui Jian's comments are philosophical and insightful: "Teacher Chen used independent creation to make an artist's confession. We still live in a certain absurdity. Seeing such works is hope."
At the end of the premiere, Chen Peisi said: "If everyone likes it, I will be happy. This is what I am willing to do, and I will continue to shoot happily in the future."
Chen Peisi
"Stage" is currently open for preview and will be officially released on July 25.