On October 30th, the realistic film "Deep Affection" held its premiere in Beijing. Screenwriter Hao Jingjing, an associate professor at Shanxi University, and lead actor Yu Haoyang attended the post-screening Q&A session, discussing this meticulously crafted work focusing on the "Youyu Spirit" with the audience and media. The film will officially premiere nationwide on November 3rd through the People's Cinema Circuit.
As a key creative demonstration project of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles in 2023 and a key theme support work of Shanxi Province in 2022, "Deep Affection" is based on the true story of Mao Yongkuan, a grassroots cadre in Youyu County, Shanxi Province. Through three sets of relationships—husband and wife, brothers, and father and son—it vividly portrays the process of desertification control and afforestation passed down from generation to generation.
screenwriter Hao Jingjing
When sharing her creative experience, screenwriter Hao Jingjing said that in order to restore the historical texture, she made several trips to Youyu County to conduct on-site research, consulted county annals, historical materials and the original author's notes, and interviewed dozens of local cadres and people. "Scenes such as the 'Tree of Unity' in the film are all artistic processing based on real events," she said. "Director Kang Jianmin elevated the script to the dimension of life, emphasizing the relationship between humans and nature, making the theme more profound."
Lead actor Yu Haoyang
Lead actress Yu Haoyang shared her efforts to portray a character from the 1970s: "Before filming began, at my mother's request, I experienced digging in the fields, and after joining the crew, I participated in all the farm work, including carrying water." She said emotionally, "This experience was a spiritual baptism, and the character's determination and resilience deeply influenced me. I hope that through my performance, the audience can feel the deepest affection for the land and the people."
During the post-screening Q&A session, a grassroots worker from the Yanjiao Town Government in Sanhe County, Langfang, Hebei Province, said that the film's portrayal of women's strength as "holding up half the sky" resonated with her: "The struggles of grassroots cadres are real and tangible, especially the scene of the desert turning into an oasis, which made me want to applaud." Another audience member remarked: "The film made me understand the profound meaning of 'persistent efforts,' and the 'Youyu Spirit' that I learned about in textbooks came to life."
Premiere screening photos
According to reports, "Deep Affection" has assembled a top-notch creative team in China. Director Kang Jianmin, a national first-class screenwriter, has directed works such as "Iron-Blooded Yangquan" and "Mao Zedong Goes to Anyuan"; Cinematographer Lu Hongyi has worked on classic films such as "The Story of Qiu Ju" and "Ruan Lingyu"; and Art Director Zhang Xiaoyun has deeply explored regional themes with works such as "Youyu and Her County Party Secretaries." In addition, the behind-the-scenes team, including composer Yang Tianjie and sound designer Sun Lijun, infuses the film with professional-level audiovisual language.
In terms of the cast, veteran actors such as Li Mincheng, Yu Haoyang, and Chen Jiulong accurately portray a group of grassroots cadres. Li Mincheng's portrayal of Wang Guolin, who is idealistic and selfless, becomes an epitome of the cadres in Youyu County; while Yu Haoyang's portrayal of Zhang Chunmei showcases the resilience and sensitivity of women in the process of desertification control.
Movie poster
Produced by Shanxi Jingchen Future Film and Television Media Co., Ltd., and co-produced by the Publicity Department of the CPC Shuozhou Municipal Committee and the Publicity Center of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the film aims to carry forward the red gene and deepen the contemporary connotation of the "Youyu Spirit" through cinematic storytelling.