Chinese girls (in the olden times and even now, like my family called me another name) has a personal name that only family members are allowed to use. Did you watch Love Like A Galaxy? Ling Bu Yi, his formal name, has a personal family name given to him--Zi Sheng. Cheng Shao Shan was nicknamed Niao Niao. Thus A'Li is what family called XFF. It was coincidence (or fate) that Jiang Li was also a "Li," although a different meaning. Their fates had a recurring theme--the name of Jiang Li's personal yard/domain was Fang Fei Garden and when XFF saw the sign, she muttered, "It must be fate."
It's VERY personal when a man called a woman her personal name. It's an invasion of space or a declaration of intimacy.
The director's fault who imo didn't know his ptoduct's strongest points
It's overstylized (just defending this point) because the Director's intention was to frame it like a play within a play. The characters loved or mentioned Chinese opera at various points (even the villains--the magistrate and Lord Cheng) and quoted lines from famous Chinese plays. If you look at various scenes, especially the Evil Princess and SYR scenes on her balcony, it is structured like a play, with curtains on both sides. When the characters posed, the camera would pan back and you see a frame like a stage or Chinese painting. The close ups break the fourth wall, speaking directly to the camera, to force the viewer into soliloquy-like moments, just like a Shakespearean play (the Director admitted to this influence) and lastly, the odd orangey make-up, although lighter, is reminiscent of Chinese opera makeup. You will also find the foot movements in certain scenes to mirror Chinese opera steps without the tuk-tuk-tuk-chang beats played if they were on a live stage. The sleeves flapping IS a Chinese opera move, as well as the twirling.
For those who are starting (or restarting...) the journey at The Double.The director gave us a lot of homework…
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I would pay money to see a whole drama of the Adventures of Xue Fang Fei dressed up impersonating Duke Su with fan (ala her persona at the black market) and Xiao Heng. LOL. That episode starting with her suddenly opening that fan in a flourish in response to General Biao's refusal always cracks me up. WJY's portrayal of WXY's Duke Su was so dead on. You can tell, at the end of the drinking game and with all of them deaf, Xiao Heng was thoroughly smitten with his Qi-Ze.
I wish your comment can be pinned. I love your interpretation. it's beautiful.
Hi, thank you! Now you can find me on either my Feed or your Feed and every post I pin there will usually have a link back to the board. Can you check and see all my past pinned posts?
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It's VERY personal when a man called a woman her personal name. It's an invasion of space or a declaration of intimacy.