On May 15, 2024, the premiere of the movie "Father Is Far Away" was held at the Shanghai CPPCC Auditorium.
Group photo of guests at the premiere of the movie "Father Is Far Away"
The film is adapted from the touching deeds of Jiang Wanfu, the "National Moral Model" and "National Model of National Unity". He dedicated 43 years at the foot of Kunlun Mountain and successfully performed more than 2,000 medical and surgical operations. He was affectionately called "Donkey" by people of all ethnic groups. The angel in white on the back."
The movie "Father Is Far Away" was produced and filmed by Shanghai Yiruo Culture Communication Co., Ltd., Tianshan Film Studio, Shanghai Xiangsheng Film and Television Production and Distribution Co., Ltd., and was promoted by the Propaganda Department of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Committee, the Federation of Literary and Art Circles of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and the Heilongjiang Provincial Party Committee It was jointly produced by the Department and Shanghai Film (Group) Co., Ltd. Actor Troupe. The creative team brought together multi-ethnic actors from Shanghai and Xinjiang to use sincere performances to convey the sincere and deep human love to the audience through the screen.
The film will be officially released on May 20 and will be screened at the Shanghai International Film Festival.
Enter Jiang Wanfu’s spiritual world
At the age of 17, Jiang Wanfu responded to the country's call and came to the foot of the Kunlun Mountains in Xinjiang from Shanghai, where he began his life of selfless dedication to the people in the border areas. With superb medical skills and a sincere heart, he has successfully performed more than 2,000 medical and surgical operations in 43 years despite difficult conditions and a lack of medical treatment and medicine. No matter it was day or night, or severe cold or heat, whenever a patient needed it, he would always set out without hesitation. His selfless dedication and noble character have won the love and respect of people of all ethnic groups, and he is called the "angel in white on the back of a donkey" by people of all ethnic groups. He is not only a doctor, but also a relative of the herdsmen. He has traveled to every corner of the Kunlun Mountains and saved countless lives.
But such a person with great love has irreparable regrets and debts towards his closest relatives. The film uses the clue that after Jiang Wanfu's death, his daughter Jiang Xin returned to Xinjiang with her father's ashes for burial, and connected the doctor's ordinary and great life through the memories of the patients who had been rescued by her father along the way. The daughter also gradually understood her father's choice in the process.
Tong Ruixin attended the premiere event
Starring Tong Ruixin plays Jiang Wanfu in the film. In order to understand the character deeply, he went to Xinjiang to experience the environment where Jiang Wanfu studied and worked, and communicated with Jiang Wanfu's colleagues in an effort to restore the real character. During the filming process, Tong Ruixin persisted in completing various difficult shooting tasks despite her waist injuries, including wading across a river through fast and bone-chilling ice water and riding a yak while wearing a 10-kilogram fur jacket. He said: "Every time I go to the actual shooting, my waist feels like it has never been sick." Tong Ruixin said that being able to participate in the creation of "Father is Far Away" under the Kunlun Mountains was an unforgettable and proud experience in his artistic career.
In order to better shape the role of Jiang Wanfu, Tong Ruixin visited Jiang Wanfu's wife Zhao Junhua before going to Xinjiang to learn about Jiang Wanfu's most real side and life details. He said: "I like life. Actors should approach the characters with awe and also portray the characters with an ordinary heart." While in Xinjiang, Tong Ruixin came to the Corps Health Center where Jiang Wanfu studied, to experience life, and interacted with Doctors who once worked with Jiang Wanfu said, "This Shanghainese is amazing. They all remember his appearance."
Tong Ruixin plays Jiang Wanfu in the film
Tong Ruixin not only played Jiang Wanfu, but also guest-starred as Jiang Wanfu's father in a farewell scene for young people who came to Xinjiang. Sun Qing, who played Jiang Wanfu's mother, was deeply impressed by that scene: "There are thousands of Jiang Wanfu, and there are thousands of Jiang Wanfu's parents, and they have all experienced such a farewell scene. Shooting this scene, for me It’s also a spiritual baptism.”
Multi-ethnic actors interpret touching Xinjiang stories
The main creative team of "Father Is Far Away" comes from Shanghai and Xinjiang, and is composed of actors from Han, Manchu, Hui, Uyghur and other ethnic groups. The film's director, Yan Gaoshan, comes from Tianshan Film Studio and has filmed many minority-themed films such as "The Golden Swordsman". During the early exchanges, Tong Ruixin and he hit it off and quickly made a "Kunlun Agreement."
The crew shot in Yingjisha County, Kashgar, Xinjiang, facing the vast Gobi Desert, and overcame difficult shooting conditions to complete this extraordinary film. During the filming process, Tong Ruixin realized the reason why Jiang Wanfu persisted for 43 years. He said: "Every time I see those waiting eyes, I understand Jiang Wanfu's perseverance back then."
The filming scene of "Father Is Far Away"
Almost all the Han characters in the film were played by actors from the Shanghai Film Actors Troupe, including 83-year-old performing artist Da Shichang. Despite his advanced age, he traveled to Xinjiang to play the role of the old company commander Xu Da, and performed well. At the premiere, group leader Tong Ruixin revealed that this role was originally played by Niu Ben, but he was unable to do so due to physical reasons. Da Shi often serves as a "firefighter" and goes to Xinjiang to participate in filming regardless of his age. Before departure, the Shanghai Film Makeup Artist had already worked with him in the dressing room of the theater company on Wukang Road to style the character, and they repeatedly figured out the length of the hair and the shape of the eyebrows. As soon as he landed in Xinjiang, Da Shichang continued to try on costumes and finalize the look, while discussing the details of the performance design with the director.
Talking about this rescue, Da Shichang said, "As an actor, you must show creativity, and your artistic conscience cannot tolerate any sloppiness. Jiang Wanfu has been struggling in Xinjiang for decades. Before his death, he asked his family to send his ashes to Xinjiang for burial. . He is ordinary but great. Participating in this drama also taught me what kind of person a hero is."
Jiang Xin, the daughter of Jiang Wanfu, played by young actor Wang Weiwei, came from the city to the foot of Kunlun Mountain. The film traces the flashback from her perspective. "When I rode the yak, I suddenly felt empathy with the character. I think his daughter must also understand her father's noble soul and mission as a healer." At the premiere, Wang Weiwei saw the character he played. Prototype, the two hugged each other and cried.
The filming scene of "Father Is Far Away"
Zhao Jing, who plays Jiang Wanfu's wife in the film, talked about the difficult shooting conditions, "The locals still wear down jackets in June, but our actors had already jumped into the river to film in March. We created with awe, because I am moved by the hero, even if there is only one scene, I am willing to come.”
Tong Ruixin recalled that doing makeup in the morning sometimes meant moving a chair on the set in the vast Gobi Desert. When she was thirsty, she drank a sip of milk tea brought by the ethnic makeup artist. When she was tired from shooting, she lay down on the ground wearing a sheepskin jacket. Sometimes she had mutton buns for lunch. Adding mineral water, Tong Ruixin said those pictures were so beautiful and unforgettable. Although the working conditions are difficult, it is nothing compared with Jiang Wanfu, who has been rooted in Kunlun Mountain for 43 years. "With full creative enthusiasm, Shanghai Filmmakers overcame difficulties with Xinjiang filmmakers to complete a very meaningful creation."
The filming scene of "Father Is Far Away"
Jiang Wanfu once said: "People should have ideals, pursuits, and the spirit of doing something for society when they are alive. If you can do it, it is worth it. This cannot be measured by money. I hope that I can have the Kunlun Mountains in my life." Tong Ruixin said: "We at Shanghai Film Academy are equally proud of our experience in participating in the creation of "Father Is Far Away" under the Kunlun Mountains."
