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Captivating anthology series inspired by real lives
Oh, how I appreciate a captivating anthology series inspired by real lives, depicting moments in a person's life, whether in high school or college!
And this is precisely what 'Mr. X And I', based on the life of Chinese director Zhang Wen Shuang.
The trigger for the stories in the series is that they all portray a homosexual relationship. From there, Zhang Wen Shuang and Le Geng put together small stories that oscillate between the poetic, romance, questions between sexuality and gender, the school and youth environment, and they have had a notable staff of editors, scriptwriters and actors for each episode of its three seasons.
Yes, independent stories are my thing, because they usually offer room for creative experimentation, combining unconventional narrative structures, time jumps or even different visual styles within the same series without compromising the verisimilitude of the plot or characters; But if they have 8 gay men as protagonists and the city of Beijing, the Chinese capital, as a backdrop, they also intrigue me, which is why this miniseries ended up being one of my favorites. Even with the high bar to meet, I didn't leave the virtual platforms that showcase it disappointed in the slightest.
The series really has everything going for it (the cast, the script, the cinematography, the editing, the art, the controversy...) and it's not afraid to flaunt it. The icing on the cake is the confident and careful filmmaking of director Zhang Wen Shuang, who lets every facet of his creation shine.
Another of its strong points is the independent and self-contained narrative, the absence of a continuous plot and character development throughout the four episodes. This is a great advantage for the series viewer, since they can skip individual episodes that are less attractive without losing connection.
The final set, stacked, in its display packaging, is perhaps the strongest and most crucial feature of the miniseries. There is not a single weak link in the group.
The series is above all a great showcase for Guan Lexiao, Arthur Ma, Leon Li, Li Ou, Tu Dou, Wang Qiuhan, YiFan Wu Zhou Yibo, who play, in that order, Liang Haoran, Wang Kai Yuan, Zhao Xiaobu, Jia Ming, Li Xiang, Song Xiaoke, Tao Ye, and Xu Zhengxi, all skillfully played.
In this sense, as each episode tells a new story, the actors change, but not the production team. In this way, the creators allowed for a wide range of perspectives and constantly new creative influences.
Adding texture is a fantastic ensemble of character actresses. Look, if you recruit Wen Xin or Zhang Beiyu to play a supporting role in your series, then you will have piqued my curiosity. But what if you recruit them both? And ask them to plot in the shadows against the leading boys, one playing Gu Xue and the other Ai Tong? So, I'll be the first in line on opening night!
Although each episode tells its own story, the series has a unifying theme and style that runs through all four of its episodes.
The performances aren't the only artistry on display. The shot compositions are tremendously bold.
Len Geng and Zhang Wen Shuang love close-ups and "Us Against the World" (Ep. 1), "Promise You a City" (Ep. 2), "Beijing Beijing" (Ep. 3), and "The Groomsman" (Ep. 4) are full of them. It will fill the frame with as much of an actor's face as possible and give them the shallowest depth of field allowed to work with. And if the setting requires it, actors in medium shots will also float in a sea of soft focus. The effect is isolating.
These characters are constantly in states of reflection, of interaction with each other. At any given moment, they are dealing with what is best for their own life or relationship, and the technique magnifies the immense pressure the creators have placed on them; to fight for your happiness and that of the person who accompanies you on the journey of life and love.
So yes, Zhang Wen Shuang brings us uncomfortably close to the actors whenever the occasion arises.
No one can doubt it, I get so excited every time a director composes conceptually and with intention!
And this is precisely what 'Mr. X And I', based on the life of Chinese director Zhang Wen Shuang.
The trigger for the stories in the series is that they all portray a homosexual relationship. From there, Zhang Wen Shuang and Le Geng put together small stories that oscillate between the poetic, romance, questions between sexuality and gender, the school and youth environment, and they have had a notable staff of editors, scriptwriters and actors for each episode of its three seasons.
Yes, independent stories are my thing, because they usually offer room for creative experimentation, combining unconventional narrative structures, time jumps or even different visual styles within the same series without compromising the verisimilitude of the plot or characters; But if they have 8 gay men as protagonists and the city of Beijing, the Chinese capital, as a backdrop, they also intrigue me, which is why this miniseries ended up being one of my favorites. Even with the high bar to meet, I didn't leave the virtual platforms that showcase it disappointed in the slightest.
The series really has everything going for it (the cast, the script, the cinematography, the editing, the art, the controversy...) and it's not afraid to flaunt it. The icing on the cake is the confident and careful filmmaking of director Zhang Wen Shuang, who lets every facet of his creation shine.
Another of its strong points is the independent and self-contained narrative, the absence of a continuous plot and character development throughout the four episodes. This is a great advantage for the series viewer, since they can skip individual episodes that are less attractive without losing connection.
The final set, stacked, in its display packaging, is perhaps the strongest and most crucial feature of the miniseries. There is not a single weak link in the group.
The series is above all a great showcase for Guan Lexiao, Arthur Ma, Leon Li, Li Ou, Tu Dou, Wang Qiuhan, YiFan Wu Zhou Yibo, who play, in that order, Liang Haoran, Wang Kai Yuan, Zhao Xiaobu, Jia Ming, Li Xiang, Song Xiaoke, Tao Ye, and Xu Zhengxi, all skillfully played.
In this sense, as each episode tells a new story, the actors change, but not the production team. In this way, the creators allowed for a wide range of perspectives and constantly new creative influences.
Adding texture is a fantastic ensemble of character actresses. Look, if you recruit Wen Xin or Zhang Beiyu to play a supporting role in your series, then you will have piqued my curiosity. But what if you recruit them both? And ask them to plot in the shadows against the leading boys, one playing Gu Xue and the other Ai Tong? So, I'll be the first in line on opening night!
Although each episode tells its own story, the series has a unifying theme and style that runs through all four of its episodes.
The performances aren't the only artistry on display. The shot compositions are tremendously bold.
Len Geng and Zhang Wen Shuang love close-ups and "Us Against the World" (Ep. 1), "Promise You a City" (Ep. 2), "Beijing Beijing" (Ep. 3), and "The Groomsman" (Ep. 4) are full of them. It will fill the frame with as much of an actor's face as possible and give them the shallowest depth of field allowed to work with. And if the setting requires it, actors in medium shots will also float in a sea of soft focus. The effect is isolating.
These characters are constantly in states of reflection, of interaction with each other. At any given moment, they are dealing with what is best for their own life or relationship, and the technique magnifies the immense pressure the creators have placed on them; to fight for your happiness and that of the person who accompanies you on the journey of life and love.
So yes, Zhang Wen Shuang brings us uncomfortably close to the actors whenever the occasion arises.
No one can doubt it, I get so excited every time a director composes conceptually and with intention!
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