The 2024 Spring Festival movies are still in the "finals" stage. Among them, " Article 20" directed by Zhang Yimou went ahead and won the single-day box office championship for four consecutive days. As of February 22, 2024, its box office reached 1.777 billion yuan, breaking the box office record for family films in Chinese film history.
Compared with Zhao Liying who played the role of a deaf-mute village woman and stunned everyone with her breakthrough performance, the performances of Lei Jiayin and Ma Li in the film stayed in the "safe zone" familiar to the audience. Li Maojuan (played by Ma Li) is fierce and vigorous in his chattering, and Han Ming (played by Lei Jiayin) has a cowardly look of trying to make ends meet. They not only inject a strong flavor of life into this film, but also somewhat bridge the lofty concept of legal popularization and the " self" The rift between "Love My Home Family Fun".
Lei Jiayin plays the leading actor Han Ming in the movie "Article 20". Data map
This is not the first time Lei Jiayin has played a "wimp". Netizens even broke down the subtle style differences between the three actors (Lei Jiayin, Guo Jingfei , Baike ) who are chasing each other in the "wimp" track. Generally speaking, they are very different from the overbearing male protagonists who were courageous and successful in their careers in the past. They usually have been beaten hard by life in middle age, have mediocre abilities and qualifications, limited social resources, and slim prospects for advancement. Flattery. As a common saying goes, "the status is not as good as the family pet dog."
It is worth noting that instead of being criticized for being humble, this type of male image was praised for being "husband-like". Compared with the image of a tyrant, what are the social and psychological roots of the popularity of “wimps”? How did they become the new "ideal" partners?
"Their plight transcends gender"
If the "wimp" characters are only appreciated as images of the opposite sex, it will be almost impossible to satisfy women's tendency to "be strong". Judging from their age, they are no longer young. They lack the idealistic light that permeates young men, and they no longer have the infinite possibilities that go hand in hand with youth. In terms of achievements, they are far inferior to successful men of the same age. They have no "guaranteed victory" and can only struggle desperately in order to live a stable life. But compared to the domineering president, the difficult situation of surviving in the cracks of this kind of "wimp" is obviously more suitable for most ordinary people and can arouse everyone's sympathy.
For example, Lei Jiayin once played the role of Chen Junsheng, a middle-aged divorced man who abandoned his wife in the TV series "My First Half of Life", and was called the "ex-husband brother" by the audience. The full-time wife at home knew nothing about his work difficulties, but his female subordinate Ling Ling was able to help him solve problems. Chen Junsheng's emotional balance eventually tilted towards the latter. However, the show keenly points out that marrying the person you love is not a "source of happiness." After marriage, Ling Ling quickly exposed her selfish and cold side, thus turning Chen Junsheng's ideal marriage into smoke. The drama version of "The First Half of My Life" significantly rewrites Yi Shu's original work in the way that the heroine Luo Zijun regains her golden husband. It also returns to the ending of Lu Xun's "Sorrow" with Chen Junsheng's dilemma of being "backstabbed by ideals". When being backstabbed by reality, there is often room for psychological maneuver; when being backstabbed by ideals, there is no solution to the depression in a person's heart. It is not difficult to find that the "marriage dilemma" encountered by Chen Junsheng also exists in the majority of men and women. What we exhale from him is our own helpless breath.
Another example is the comedy movie " Annual Conference Can't Stop!" In "", Baike plays the human resources manager Ma Jie. In order to keep his job, he conceals the truth that the fitter Hu Jianlin was mistakenly transferred to the head office. Not only does he work harder for this, but he is also constantly laying off colleagues and is criticized by many people as " The center of the storm." In "Dirty Work: The Moral Injury of Necessary Work," American journalist Eyal Press calls the work of low-level workers who have to sell their conscience "dirty work." The powerful gain "moral immunity" from this. In other words, the reason why they have clean hands and clear consciences is because they do not have to do the "dirty work"."The annual meeting cannot be stopped!" "The "blinded" chairman declared that he would thoroughly investigate the truth. The general manager called the dissolution of the machinery factory caused by corruption a "new line." The leadership's condescending remarks pierced the idea that Ma Jie, a beaten worker, was "not a human being inside and outside." Dilemma: In order to earn a living for his family, he can only follow orders and block out all true feelings.
Bai Ke in the movie "The Annual Meeting Can't Stop!" "" plays the role of Ma Jie, a manpower of an Internet company. Data map
Han Ming in "Article 20" can be said to be the "master" of all the above difficulties. As a temporary officer, he was cautious and cautious in order to become a regular employee. Handling the case according to the practice of past cases was the safest plan. Even if he keeps his tail between his legs, his life is still a broken ship that keeps leaking. His son, petitioners, and colleagues keep disturbing his already overwhelmed mind. The life difficulties of the "Han Mings" transcend gender distinctions and bring together the "greatest common denominator" of the difficult world.
From "wimps" to "ideal types"
If we examine the "wimps" who are frustrated in life only from the perspective of choosing a heterosexual partner, they still have a lot to offer. Precisely because they have been in a disadvantaged position for a long time, they are more emotionally sensitive, better at tolerance, tolerance, encouragement, and "full of emotional value." In the past, the "ideal partner" either provided stable financial support or provided "harmony" in terms of values. Pursuing "emotional value" is undoubtedly a downgrade for both: you don't want your partner to be rich and wealthy, but just want your salary card to be handed over; I hope that the two souls will know each other and agree with each other. I just hope that they will "not spoil the fun" and "not preach." But who can say that this kind of pursuit is not more down-to-earth?
Guo Jingfei (Part 1) plays the role of Mingcheng, the second son of the Su family, in the TV series "是好". The data map
can upgrade this group of "wimp" male images into ideal partners, and the "understanding eyes" of their film and television creators are crucial. The common comedy in Han Ming played by Lei Jiayin, Mingcheng played by Guo Jingfei ("Everything is Good"), and Ma Jie played by Baike is undoubtedly an important factor that the directors have added to their lives. Take Mingcheng for example. On the surface, he is a spoiled giant baby who makes a career out of chewing the elderly. But if you look closely, he is the one who can soothe the old father’s mood the most when he goes on hunger strike. In order to persuade the old father to leave on the street, he can perform a square dance at his fingertips. Even the most heart-wrenching and sensible lines in the play often come from him. He said: "Because you are too old? Because you don't take a shower?" The director fully explored their shining points and turned the tragic song of the frustrated into a humane "aria" that left people with a long aftertaste. After "Everything Is Fine" became a hit, the filial son Mingzhe, the foolish and filial son who blindly satisfied his old father's unreasonable demands, received even louder criticism. It is obvious to all that "toxic family concepts" hurt the wives and children at home. On the other hand, Mingcheng, who is not so "correct", treats his wife warmly and coldly, and always obeys and pleases her. If you were to choose one of the two, would you choose the latter?
Southern Weekend staff writer, Phytolacca
editor-in-chief, Liu Youxiang
