Director: Gao Chang
Screenwriter: Wu Qi / Hong Gangyi
Starring: Qin Han / Wan Qian / Feng Shaofeng
Genre: Biography / Romance / Contemporary
Production Country/Region: Mainland China
Language: Mandarin Chinese
Release Date: 2012-03-08 (Mainland China)
Running Time: 92 minutes
"Liurushi" Movie Broadcast Address: http://www.haohao66.com/Single/liurushi/
Synopsis of "Liurushi":
The romantic legend of talented woman Liu Rushi and warrior Qian Qianyi has been spread for hundreds of years.
Liu Rushi (played by Wan Qian), the top courtesan in the brothel, is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She advocates gender equality and cares about national affairs. On the other hand, Qian Qianyi (played by Qin Han), who has gone through political turmoil and power struggles, is physically and mentally exhausted but still cherishes his love for poetry and his concern for the nation. By chance, they meet through poetry, empathize with each other, and come together due to mutual admiration. However, as the storm approaches, a great upheaval follows, and an era is on the verge of collapse. Faced with the change of dynasties, due to their different perspectives on history, Qian and Liu have differing views on the situation, leading to cracks in their relationship: one goes far away to Nanjing to serve as an official under the Qing dynasty, while the other comes south to search for anti-Qing forces of the Southern Ming dynasty. After the dust settles, they reconcile and live a simple rural life at Red Bean Villa.
Liu Rushi, an extraordinary woman in turbulent times, excels in poetry, calligraphy, painting, dance, and opera. Having been sold into the brothel from a young age, this famous courtesan is not renowned merely for her talents and beauty but also for the integrity she displays in troubled times. More importantly, Liu's husband was the leader of the Donglin Party, Qian Qianyi, who had significant social influence and had previously served as the Minister of Rites in the Southern Ming court. With such a powerful husband, every move of Liu Rushi attracted much attention. Although Qian Qianyi later surrendered to the Qing dynasty and was called a traitor, Liu Rushi consistently encouraged him to secretly support anti-Qing martyrs and participate in anti-Qing activities, showcasing her noble integrity as a woman.
The lead actress in "Liurushi" is Wan Qian, a new actor who underwent more than half a year of training to play the role of Liu Rushi, including learning Kunqu opera singing, playing musical instruments, and practicing calligraphy and painting. Wan Qian underwent specialized training similar to what Liu Rushi experienced. Her modern appearance is graceful, but portraying Liu Rushi requires adding some masculine qualities since Liu often dressed as a man and harbored intense patriotic sentiments, even wanting to emulate Liang Hongyu by fighting alongside her husband against enemies. These aspects highlight Liu Rushi's inner strength and integrity. Wan Qian performs the role quite well; although it was a challenge for her, her performance does not disappoint.
One advantage of casting a relatively unknown actress like Wan Qian is that the audience doesn't need time to adjust to seeing a familiar face. If a star were cast, the audience might focus more on the celebrity rather than the character, which sometimes results in the audience not fully engaging with the film until its end.
"Liurushi" examines turbulent times from a female perspective and portrays characters as talented individuals, making the film’s tone as delicate as the scenery of Jiangnan. In addition to providing a panoramic view of Liu Rushi's tumultuous life, the movie also offers insight into Qian Qianyi's character. Qian Qianyi's surrender to the Qing dynasty, both historically and currently, has been controversial and criticized by scholars, much like when he married Liu Rushi. The film provides a relatively fair explanation: Qian Qianyi did not want to endure the large-scale massacres like those carried out by Yu Chenglong, and to avoid civilian suffering, he chose to surrender the city to the Qing army.
Qian Qianyi's actions initially faced strong opposition from Liu Rushi, who believed in the righteousness of loyalty and filial piety. Enduring humiliation was something she could never tolerate, having been taught these principles from a young age. As a woman, she had her limitations, but Qian Qianyi, considering the safety of the entire city's population, chose to surrender. From today's perspective, Qian Qianyi's choice was correct, but regardless of the outcome, anyone making such a decision would face criticism, a poignant reality.
"Liurushi" is the first film to focus on the legendary life of this remarkable woman during the transition from the Ming to the Qing dynasty. While Liu Rushi's fame is considerable, it has not yet reached the level of universal recognition. Through the medium of film, more people can become aware of Liu Rushi's life experiences. The film depicts two major loves in Liu Rushi's life and highlights her steadfast integrity throughout. Courtesans in ancient times were ranked differently; Liu Rushi, as a famous courtesan, learned music, chess, calligraphy, and painting from a young age, sang Kunqu opera beautifully, and her multi-talented nature made her the favored courtesan among literati, even attracting young talents like Chen Zilong.
As a courtesan, despite her high status, Liu Rushi had few men who truly loved her. Perhaps the only ones she genuinely loved were Chen Zilong and Qian Qianyi. Due to her romantic stories with these two renowned scholars, Liu Rushi became widely known. Today, Liu Rushi's fame seems to surpass that of these later scholars, and people seem more interested in studying her than the famous ministers and generals. This film presents a poignant tale of romance and tragedy set against the backdrop of turbulent times. In such times, no one can remain unscathed; everyone has different views on life and honor, which ultimately determines whether they will be remembered as infamous or celebrated. Liu Rushi achieved lasting fame due to her loyal and righteous integrity.