“Lychees in Chang’an” Stars Connect with Audiences on “Cow and Horse” Struggles
Film’s themes of dedication resonate deeply at Shanghai roadshow.
At a recent Shanghai event, the cast and crew of the acclaimed film “Lychees in Chang’an” engaged with audiences, sparking conversations about the timeless concept of relentless effort, often termed “cows and horses,” drawing parallels between historical dedication and contemporary life.
A Shared Human Experience
Dapeng, director and star of the movie, alongside cast members Bai Ke, Zhuang Dafei, and Liu Junqian, plus supporting actor Sun Yang, discussed how the film, based on Ma Boyong‘s popular IP, struck a chord with many attendees. Viewers expressed identifying with the characters’ struggles, with many feeling they too were embodying the “cow and horse” spirit in their own lives, echoing the sentiment, “Everyone is Li Shande.”
Comedian He Guangzhi made a surprise appearance, sharing his emotional connection to a particular line from the film. He was deeply moved by Li Shande’s declaration: “Even if he failed, I want to know how far away I will fall from the end.”
He Guangzhi remarked, “This sentence particularly touches me, I feel like this is life.”
Actors Ning Li and Sun Yizhou also lent their support to the film.
Insights from Academia and Fans
A university professor observed that the film illuminated the “suffering of life,” noting, “Every era has the suffering of little people, and everyone is looking for their own path in the end.”
The professor gifted the filmmakers a poem, “The fragrance of lychees leads the way, and the clouds open and the moon sees it.”
Fans also expressed their connection through homemade “working emoticon packages.” Bai Ke, Zhuang Dafei, and Liu Junqian humorously reenacted these, portraying sentiments like “You must have fun in life, and I will get off work when I am about to finish,”
“Leave it to me, just be upset,”
and “The sky is loud, and the cow and horse are on the stage brightly.”
At the audience’s request, Dapeng and Bai Ke recreated a memorable scene where Li Shande sought an increased budget, eliciting knowing laughter with the line “996 coins.”
Filmmaking Process and Artistic Choices
The creative team delved into specific aspects of the filmmaking. Dapeng explained his use of camera angles to depict Li Shande’s confrontation with the prime minister and his subsequent encounter with Su Liang. Zhuang Dafei shared that immersing herself in the character of Atong required shedding personal distractions, as Atong is a “very pure, wild and straightforward girl.”
When asked about memorable props, Liu Junqian wished for Yang Guozhong’s token to aid Li Shande, while Sun Yang humorously desired the animal actor “Xiong” from the Five Convents of Lingnan. Action director Wu Gang provided insights into the distinct styles of the film’s action sequences: the comedic wharf fight, the challenging Lin Yinu running scene, and the tragic cliff confrontation.
The high-scoring, family-friendly film “Lychees in Chang’an” continues to captivate audiences by exploring contemporary issues through a historical lens, offering profound resonance and impact.
The film boasts an extensive list of producers and production companies, including Guangdong Aimei Film and Television Co., Ltd., Tianjin Maoyan Weiying Culture Media Co., Ltd., and Beijing Yuanqi Entertainment Culture Co., Ltd., among many others. As of late July 2023, “Lychees in Chang’an” had garnered critical acclaim, with Maoyan scoring 9.6, Douban 7.7, and Taopiaopiao 9.5, reflecting its strong reception.
