There are a huge number of movies, TV series and variety shows broadcast every week. How do you choose? You might as well take a look at the recommendations of The Paper.
【Movie】
As of press time, this week's box office has grossed 130 million yuan, with the "summer blockbuster trio" of "Chasing Shadows," "Little Monsters of Langlang Mountain," and "Nanjing Photo Studio" continuing to hold the top three spots. With several new films opening this week, check out which one might be your cup of tea.
Stills from Lighter than a Feather
"Lighter Than a Feather," directed by Zhou Quan and starring Song Jia and Tong Liya, opens nationwide on September 13th. The film has been showing in previews since Chinese Valentine's Day. The film tells the story of Mr. Zhong, who jumps into the sea, leading to the disappearance of his ex-wife, Li Yu (Song Jia), and his current wife, Shen Feihong (Tong Liya). A house with unclear ownership rights provokes these two contrasting women into a complex entanglement of both emotional and legal considerations. While accompanying their mother-in-law (Zhao Shuzhen), they rediscover the man who once served as their husband, each embarking on a new journey in life.
Song Jia and Tong Liya reunite in this dual-female story of a "new kind of relationship." With its absurd and quirky comedic setting and light, healing cinematic style, the film explores the diverse possibilities of female storytelling. While many things in life can be heavy, the film manages to be "lighter than a feather," allowing viewers to experience the journey of women, from confrontation to mutual healing, gently letting go of the weight of life.
→ Lighter than a Feather: Song Jia and Tong Liya create sparks as the two female leads
Stills from "A Brief Family History"
"A Brief History of the Family", directed by Lin Jianjie and starring Zu Feng, Guo Keyu, Sun Xilun and Lin Muren, focuses on a middle-class family of three that appears calm on the surface but is actually undercurrents. Due to a sudden accident on the campus playground, a "mysterious new member" breaks in, revealing the hidden emotional cracks in contemporary family relationships.
The film has been shortlisted for dozens of international film festivals and has attracted much attention since its debut at the Berlin and Sundance international film festivals in early 2024. This year, it won the "Most Watched Director Award" and "Most Watched Artistic Contribution Award" at the Beijing International Film Festival. Its profound analysis of family ethics and unique aesthetic style resonated with the audience on modern family issues.
Poster of Get Out
The black suspense film "Get Out" focuses on a sum of "ill-gotten gains". The director uses the absurd logic of the Coen brothers throughout the film. From the accidental shooting, the appearance of a huge sum of money to the counterattack of all the members, every turn is unexpected.
This film also marks Joseph Gordon-Levitt's first starring role on the mainland big screen in nine years. He portrays Terry's downfall from laziness and slackness to being swallowed by greed with subtle expressions and body language, bringing the audience an alternative masterpiece with black humor and high-energy reversals.
The film adaptation of the dance-poem of the same name , "Only This Green," also hits the big screen this weekend. Retaining the essence of the original production, the film tells the story of a young Palace Museum researcher who "travels back" to the Northern Song Dynasty to witness the creation of "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains."
The documentary film "The Blue Planet Outside the Window" released last week received a high score of 8.6 on Douban this week. The story is based on the Shenzhou 13 flight crew's first 6-month mission in space. It not only conquered the audience with its unprecedented real-life space shots, but also touched people's hearts with its profound emotional resonance and philosophical thinking.
→ Interview | Zhu Yiran, Director of "Blue Star Outside the Window": Bringing Back a "Star" from Space
Other recommendations:
【TV drama】
Industry News
On September 8th, filming began on the urban drama "Shine Like Her," starring Qin Lan and Wang Yang, exclusively broadcast on Tencent. Zhang Meng, Zheng Hehuizi, Jing Chao, and Wu Yuheng also star.
The drama is directed by Wang Wei and written by Yu Qing. It tells the story of career elite Chen Zhen who reunites with her ex-husband Liang Xiaofeng, who she married and divorced many years ago, after changing jobs. The two went from being at loggerheads to joining forces, and finally achieved success in both love and career.
On September 6th, filming began on the TV series "Behind the Scenes," starring Athena Chu and Ada Choi. Produced by Le Yiling and directed by Huang Guoqiang and Zeng Minshan, the series will air on Tencent Video. Also appearing are Liza Wang, Bosco Wong, David Chiang, Charlene Choi, Patrick Tam, and Cai Jie.
On September 9th, the urban romance drama "Flower Beauty," directed by Huang Tianren and starring Zhou Yiran and Wang Ziqi, wrapped filming and released a wrap-up special, airing on Hunan Satellite TV and Mango TV. The drama, based on the novel by Yi Shu, also stars Xu Mengjie, Wang Zihao, and Tu Songyan.
Now airing
This week's new dramas, "Going to the Mountains and Seas" starring Cheng Yi and Guli Nazha, and "Burning Youth" starring Reyiza and Yang Youning, have launched smoothly. Thanks to Cheng Yi's popularity, "Going to the Mountains and Seas" topped the Yunhe Daily chart and ranked second on Lighthouse on its first day of airing. Today, it has surpassed "The Life of All Things" to take the top spot, with "Burning Youth" currently in sixth place.
Going to the Mountains and Seas
The costume martial arts drama "Going to Mountains and Seas", directed by Ren Haitao and Lin Feng, written by Liu Fang, and starring Cheng Yi and Guli Nazha, exceeded 26,670 views on Tencent Video and 7,680 views on iQiyi on the first day of its broadcast.
As of press time, the popularity of "Going to Mountains and Seas" on iQiyi has exceeded 8,500.
As a syndicated drama, "Going to the Mountains and Seas" undoubtedly had a strong opening performance. Furthermore, the number of online bookings for lead actor Cheng Yi's fans reached a record high this year on the first day of its premiere, demonstrating the long-tail effect of "Lotus Tower," which has generated significant traffic and a significant fan base.
Judging from the first six episodes, the light comedy approach of "Going to the Mountains and Seas" is, to borrow the famous words of teacher Li Chengru, "like a thorn in the back, a lump in the throat, and sitting on pins and needles." It feels like when you see Cheng Yi dancing to "QUEENCARD" on Douyin. You know he tried his best and has his own style, but there's an inexplicable awkwardness, like forcing an honest person to perform.
When it comes to action scenes, "Go to the Mountains and Seas" deserves praise. Slow motion, slow motion, and wide shots—all kinds of showmanship are on display. The fight scenes between the male and female leads in the first two episodes are a bit like watching a director direct a Korean idol's year-end performance. The smooth camerawork is so precise, it's as if the audience can't see the investment in the set design. However, the more casual scenes, like chatting at home, are shot with the effect of cutouts, wasting the talent of this cast of veteran ancient idol actors.
→ Episode 1｜"Going to the Mountains and Seas": Don't force honest people to be funny
Brilliant Youth
The drama is starred by Reyiza and Tony Yang, directed by the same person as "Chicken Feathers Flying to the Sky" and written by the same person as "Nothing Gold Can Stay", making it a truly conscientious drama.
The series is adapted from the novel "The Ambitious Man" by Stone and Water. It is set in 1916 and focuses on the story of Chu Shaohua, the daughter of a Chinese medicine merchant, who was forced to marry into the Chen family to save her brother. After experiencing the loss of her husband, the seizure of her family property, the abandonment of her closest relatives and the loss of her young daughter, she left for Shanghai to revive her career.
Poster of "Bright Youth"
The "Heroine Business 101" series, with its one-on-three romance, bears some resemblance to "Nothing Gold Can Stay." In the first few episodes, the heroine's career path unfolds slowly. Although her brother, sister-in-law, and mother are unreliable, she finds a devoted husband who obeys her every command and gradually begins to build a business in her husband's family's shop. The reunion with her first love is described with scant detail and a touch of awkwardness. It's unclear whether this story will progress in the future.
Overall, the first few episodes were fast-paced. From the characterization to the dialogue, to the famous confrontation with her girlfriend, the heroine's courageous and resolute personality was clearly evident, demonstrating she was definitely not the caged bird that stayed home to take care of her husband and children. Even in a Republican-era drama, the daunting concubine is still the same woman who can wield a gun and confront bandits. It's simply awesome!
Other recommendations:
How many episodes can you survive in the palace? Try this real-life ancient puppet game
【Variety Show】
The host season of "The Heart-Stirring Offer 7" will air on Dragon TV's Saturday night prime time slot starting September 13th. This season's observation panel includes veterans Chen Ming and He Junlin, as well as newcomers Zhang Quanling, Xu Zhisheng, and Wang Ziqi.
Zhou Shen
"National Music Talent Training Camp," a blockbuster music variety show, and a roster of faculty from national art troupes and top art schools—just looking at these keywords, you can sense its immense potential. "China Singer," produced by the CCTV Spring Festival Gala team, recently announced its cast: Joker Xue, Zhou Shen, Tan Weiwei, A Yunga, Liao Changyong, Mo Hualun, Wang Li, Wang Chuanyue, Wang Hongwei, Wu Bixia, Wang Lida, and Wang Peiyu.
On Tencent Video's "Earth Super Fresh," you can experience authentic local food and hear moving stories. This week, regular members of the Earth Team, including Sun Honglei, Li Naiwen, Chen He, and Liu Yuning, along with guest stars Jin Jing and Lin Yi, performed the show's theme song on the streets of Barcelona. The captivating melody, combined with the chorus of international tourists, drew a barrage of comments calling it "the ceiling of cultural export."
Stitch is the new friend of Hi Single 2
The second season of "The King of Comedy Stand-up" concludes this week with its annual finals, airing twice on iQiyi this Friday and Saturday. Join the "Top 12 of the Year"—Director Fang, Lin Jianqi, Liu Rencheng, Liu Yang, Qiqi, Tang Xiang, Xinbo, Wang Yue, Xiha, Yu Xiangyu, Zhai Jianing, and Zhang Cailing—for the finals.
The first Traditional Chinese Medicine-themed workplace variety show , "Newcomers: Traditional Chinese Medicine Season," will air on Mango TV every Sunday at 12:00 PM starting September 14th. The cast includes Qi Sijun, Wang Jingxuan, Li Sheng, Zhu Xudan, Zhang Xiaowan, Chen Derong, Wen Tao, Zhou Junwei, Cao Enqi, Tang Jiuzhou, Li Chengxuan, Bo Yuan, Gao Qingchen, Wu Yi, Shen Yue, Chu Nalisa, and Xu Zhisheng.
Other recommendations:
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