Wong Kar-wai's first TV series, a 30-episode series <Blossoms> (繁華, Blossoms Shanghai), began airing on December 27 with the release of four episodes. It is being broadcast on China's state broadcaster CCTV-8 and the online channel Tencent Video, and is based on the novel 『Blossoms』 by Jin Yucheng, which was published domestically last October. The novel 『Blossoms』, published in 2012, won the Mao Dun Literature Prize, one of the most prestigious literary awards in Chinese literature, and is a representative work of author Jin Yucheng, vividly depicting the lives of young people in Shanghai who have gone through the Cultural Revolution and the city's landscape. Wong Kar-wai stated, "In addition to the necessities of life, a city needs a way of life. There are stories that show the layers of life, spirit, and culture unique to Shanghai. That story is 『Blossoms』," revealing his fascination with the original work.
Jin Yucheng, born in Shanghai in 1952, was sent to work on a farm in Heilongjiang Province under the Chinese Communist Party's 'Down to the Countryside Movement' in 1969, returning to Shanghai in 1976 after the Cultural Revolution ended. He began his literary career in 1985 with the publication of the short story 「The Lost River」 in the magazine <Mingyao>, winning the Shanghai Youth Literature Award that same year. From 1988, he worked as an editor for the magazine <Shanghai Literature> and published collections of stories such as 『Jinghan』 and 『Bangdao』, which reflect his autobiographical experiences in Heilongjiang Province. The novel 『Blossoms』, which won the Mao Dun Literature Prize, is his first novel published domestically. The Mao Dun Literature Prize (茅盾文學賞, Mao Dun Literature Prize) was established by Mao Dun, recognized as a giant of modern Chinese literature alongside Lu Xun, who donated 250,000 yuan of his manuscript fees to the China Writers Association in 1981 to promote the development of Chinese novels. At that time, the judges of the Mao Dun Literature Prize stated that 『Blossoms』 is "a novel that shows a new path for Chinese literature. The protagonist of 『Blossoms』 is the city of Shanghai itself, which changes and grows with the flow of the times."
The timeline of the TV series <Blossoms> goes back to 2019. Excluding the release of <The Grandmaster> (2013) and the re-edited version of <Chungking Express> (1995) titled <Chungking Express Redux> (2013), Wong Kar-wai had not released any of his directorial works until he announced plans in March 2019 to adapt Jin Yucheng's original work 『Blossoms』 into a video format (then known by the English title 'Blossom'). He also revealed that it would be the third installment of his 'Hua' (華) trilogy, which includes <In the Mood for Love> (2000) and <2046> (2004), amplifying fans' expectations. Subsequently, a script was developed that faithfully reflected Wong Kar-wai's vision of 'Shanghai dialect.' Finally, in March 2020, production preparations began in Shanghai, and efforts were made to collect old items from the past and present to recreate the era. With the participation of Peter Pau (Poh Tak-hee), a legendary cinematographer from Hong Kong, filming began in September 2020. Peter Pau, known for his work on <Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon>, has also worked on films such as <The Legend of the Swordsman> (1990), <The Bride with White Hair> (1993), <The Eagle Shooting Heroes> (1993), and <Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon> (2000), and was also the cinematographer for <The Grandmaster> (2016). Thus, audiences are finally able to see Wong Kar-wai's directorial work after a decade since <The Grandmaster>.
Set in 1990s Shanghai, Hoga, who gained great popularity through works like <Nirvana in Fire> (2015) and <The Disguiser> (2015), plays the protagonist Abao. In fact, he was born in Shanghai in 1982 and is also a graduate of the Shanghai Theatre Academy. The released stills and trailers give off a vibe reminiscent of Tony Leung from <In the Mood for Love>, raising the expectations of many fans. Self-made businessman Abao (Hoga) opens a restaurant and conducts business in 1990s Shanghai, filled with opportunities and hopes, while experiencing various events intertwined with the changing world due to economic prosperity. People who help his business and those who do not continue to pass by him.
The evaluations of the released episodes mainly highlight that "Wong Kar-wai's unique mood and tone and manner are well alive." It is also noted that "every prop in the work is deeply imbued with Wong Kar-wai's color." Many reviews praise Hoga's performance, which seamlessly transitions between period dramas and modern works. All of these elements, combined with the released stills, evoke deep curiosity. Wong Kar-wai mentioned at a press conference, "This will be a very personal journey and adventure back to my hometown of Shanghai."
To summarize the introduction of the book at the time of its domestic publication, it states: "From the 1960s to the 1990s, it meticulously describes the numerous people, alleys, foods, and the times and spaces that permeate the lives of three youths, weaving together the past and present as if viewed through a microscope. 『Blossoms』 narrates the events and characters that the protagonists Husheng, Abao, and Xiaomao encounter in their living space. Everyday moments such as going to the cinema, stamp collecting, martial arts training, and witnessing secret meetings in factories are depicted, alongside countless streets, alleys, buildings, foods, and fragments of countless folk tales and memories summoned from the past. Meanwhile, the stories of the many women surrounding them become the weft. Perhaps the driving force behind their lives is not profound philosophy or grand historical discourse, but pure desire."
Furthermore, borrowing from the original work, phrases such as, "Has the revolution now become a fish slipping through the net?" and "People with a certain status in politics and business pay considerable attention to their attire. Mr. Kang said, 'Shanghai people are the best at dressing up'" suggest that the work will be filled with the diverse characters of worldly figures intertwined with the changes of the times, and the vibrant energy emitted by the metropolis of Shanghai. In fact, when the original was published, it was often referred to as the 'Chinese version of 『The Decameron』.' At the production announcement, Wong Kar-wai also stated, "Jin Yucheng's monumental novel 『Blossoms』 was the perfect backdrop for visualizing and sharing my love for my hometown Shanghai. Through this series, I want to invite viewers to dive into the exciting period of the early 1990s Shanghai, which paved the way for the prosperity of modern Shanghai and its residents." In any case, as more episodes are released, reviews of <Blossoms> will continue. For fans of Wong Kar-wai, the already released stills are more than enough to feel 'In the Mood for Shanghai.'
