When I first heard that the Beijing Dance Academy was adapting Zhang Yimou's film Full River Red into a dance drama of the same name, the first question that popped into my mind was: How could the film's unexpected finale, where the entire army recites Full River Red, be portrayed on stage? From January 10 to 12, the dance drama Full River Red premiered at the Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center, and the answer was finally revealed to the audience.

The film Full River Red is a suspenseful work full of twists and turns, where over two hours, the audience only learns the identity of Zhang Da and the other members of the Yue Family Army near the end, witnessing Yaoyin's schemes and sacrifices. The final scene of the entire army reciting Full River Red delivers the greatest dramatic tension. However, the dance drama Full River Red takes a different approach, explicitly revealing at the very beginning, in the prologue projected on the stage curtain, that Zhang Da and others are part of the Yue Family Army and outlining their plans. As a result, the entire story becomes a growth narrative for Sun Jun, who witnesses the loyalty and sacrifices of the Yue Family Army, as well as the deviousness and shamelessness of Qin Hui and his lackeys. In the end, he completes his personal growth.

By revealing the mystery from the start, the dance drama Full River Red opts for an entirely new approach: it doesn't compete with the film's unraveling storytelling technique but instead takes an angle more suited for the dance drama format. The dance drama deeply explores the psychological aspects of its characters. The antagonists, like Qin Hui, He Li, and Wu Yichun, as well as the protagonists such as Zhang Da and Yaoyin, all have inner psychological counterparts that reflect their external roles. On stage, while the actors engage in overt and covert battles, their inner counterparts appear alongside them, displaying vulnerability or strength of character. This "contrast between inner and outer selves" creates many intriguing moments. Qin Hui's inner "Black Bird" is particularly eye-catching as it symbolizes desire and conspiracy, driving the plot, manipulating Sun Jun, entangling with several characters, and adding psychological suspense to the story.

One of the highlights of the performance is the portrayal of the antagonists. Qin Hui, played by Wang Zihan, He Li, portrayed by Zeng Ming, and Wu Yichun, played by Peng Yibo, all shine in their roles. In traditional dance dramas, the villainous characters are often portrayed as flat, symbolic figures supporting the protagonist's narrative. However, Full River Red highlights the antagonists, making their roles more vivid and profound by relying on the original film's story.

In the film, Wu Yichun, played by Yue Yunpeng, is killed instantly by He Li after presenting the death-free medal. The dance drama extends this moment, turning Wu Yichun's "death scene" into a brilliant dance sequence. Even after his death, he still holds the medal, and the group dancers, each with a medal in hand, dance like puppet-like figures, using exaggerated movements to mock Wu Yichun. The quest for power becomes an illusion, provoking deep reflection. Dancer Wang Zihan, in a bold performance, plays the infamous traitor Qin Hui from Chinese history. Though his stage time isn't long, Wang Zihan's ability to manipulate his body in theatrical performance powerfully conveys Qin Hui's scheming, expanding desires, and inner emptiness, surprising the audience all the way to his recitation of Full River Red at the end.

Translator: FENG Haoxuan

Reviewer: BAI Jing