Since its release in June, the dance drama film "The Eternal Wave" has been presented to different audiences in various forms. On the afternoon of July 15, 2024, the "Caring for My Father and Mother" community charity screening event was held at the Shanghai CPPCC Member Activity Center.

Descendants of revolutionary ancestors were invited to participate in the "Caring for My Father and Mother" community charity screening event

With the theme of "Join hands to appreciate classics and inherit the red spirit", this event was jointly initiated and organized by the Shanghai Charity Foundation and the Shanghai Film Distribution and Exhibition Industry Association. The organizer selected the dance drama film "The Eternal Waves" as the theme film of this public welfare community preview event, and invited the descendants of former revolutionary ancestors to watch the film with representatives of community party members, community youth and other groups from Jing'an District. The purpose is to spread positive social energy, promote cultural exchanges and enrich the spiritual and cultural life of citizens through the power of movies.

Poster of the dance drama film "The Eternal Wave"

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Shanghai. "The Eternal Wave" is a classic work deeply loved by the audience. It is based on the true story of the martyr Li Bai who heroically sacrificed his life before liberation. The dance drama film "The Eternal Wave" is adapted from the original dance drama of the same name. Although there is no dialogue throughout the whole process, the actors' emotional outbursts are vividly expressed in their body language, which is more tense than traditional lines.

At the event, Jin Hui, secretary general of the Shanghai Film Distribution and Exhibition Industry Association, said: "Movies are not only an art form, but also a carrier of culture. We hope that through this event, more people will feel the charm of movies and at the same time contribute to social welfare."

Li Lili (center) and Cui Yi (right)

Before the movie was screened, Li Lili, a descendant of the martyr Li Bai, and the film's director Cui Yi interacted and communicated closely with the audience and shared the creation stories behind the movie.

Director Cui Yi shared the creative process of the dance drama film "The Eternal Waves". He said that this work combines the art forms of dance drama and film, aiming to convey the red spirit and the beauty of faith to the audience through this innovative expression method.

Director Cui Yi elaborated on the challenges encountered during the creative process and how to overcome them: "The biggest challenge we faced in the creative process was how to make the audience understand and feel the emotional tension and historical significance of the story without dialogue. The performance form of ballet is to convey emotions through body language, which is a huge challenge for both actors and directors." Cui Yi mentioned that ballet films have no dialogues and only rely on the actors' body language and facial expressions to convey emotions and plots, which requires the actors to be highly committed and express themselves accurately.

In order to ensure that the audience can understand and feel the deep emotions of the film, the crew spent a lot of time rehearsing and adjusting during the filming process, and every movement and every look was carefully polished. "The final effect proves that our efforts are worthwhile. The audience can deeply appreciate the revolutionary spirit and red faith that the film wants to convey through this silent performance form."

The descendants of Li Bai who have watched the film fully affirmed the film. He believes that in the process of film creation, the main creative team has a deep respect for the revolutionary martyrs, "trying to convey the red spirit in the new era and inspire the audience of the new era." Li Lili introduced and recalled the revolutionary journey of his grandfather, the martyr Li Bai. He said that his grandfather, the martyr Li Bai, learned radio telegraph technology in 1931 and has since forged an indissoluble bond with radio telegraph work. In 1948, he was arrested in Shanghai and died on May 7, 1949 at the age of 39. "Although he has left us, his spirit has always inspired our family and countless descendants."

Cui Yi said that in the process of preparing for the film, he learned a lot of real historical details and touching deeds through interviews with the martyr Li Bai's family. "These stories not only enriched our creative materials, but also deeply moved us, making us more determined to make this film well."

This event not only allowed the audience to relive the red classics and feel the baptism of the revolutionary spirit, but also further promoted the inheritance and promotion of red culture by all sectors of society. The organizers said that they will continue to hold more similar public welfare activities, using film as a medium to connect all sectors of society, continue to find touching moments in the world of light and shadow, convey love and hope, and jointly promote social progress and development.