Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 203-201: Mental Poison

The lights were all on when the movie ended.

Ma Guoqing remained seated, not moving for a long time.

The crowd in the theater began to stir, a cacophony of chatter, the crackling of chairs turning over, and the occasional sobs and sniffles mingling together. But he seemed nailed to his seat, clutching his worn-out military overcoat tightly, his gaze fixed on the screen where the credits were already rolling.

Ge You's face, a mixture of humility and pride, soaked with sweat and tears; Chen Xiaoqiang's innocent yet sensible eyes; the dilapidated tricycle; the crowded shelter; the well-worn English-Chinese Dictionary; and the hand-drawn candlestick chart... Scene after scene churned and collided in his mind.

He wasn't Chen Jianguo; he wasn't as educated and never thought about working for a securities company. But he was all too familiar with the feeling of being cornered by life and having no other choice but to fight desperately.

From the steel city to the capital, from the roaring workshops to the bustling wholesale markets, from the warm kang (heated brick bed) to the cold sheds, he felt the pain of how a man's dignity was gradually eroded under the heavy pressure of reality, and how he struggled to raise his head again and again in resentment.

"dad……"

He murmured unconsciously, his voice hoarse.

The promise Chen Jianguo made to his son on screen reminded him of his father back in his hometown in Northeast China, a taciturn worker who supported his family with his backbone.

I also remembered the hesitant look in my father's eyes when I left my hometown.

His thoughts were interrupted by a conversation between a young couple next to him.

"Sigh, it made me so sad to watch. Ge You's acting was just too good..."

"Yes, when he finally pulled out the dictionary and that picture, my tears just started flowing."

"But the ending was alright, right? At least there's hope."

"Hope? It's not that easy... That's how it is in movies, but in reality, how many people try their hardest but still can't grasp that glimmer of light?"

Ma Guoqing silently stood up, put on his military overcoat, and felt the warmth he had drawn from the cinema's heating system being quickly swallowed up by the chill of memories and reality.

He followed the crowd out of the theater and returned to the dry, cold December evening in Beijing.

The streetlights were already on, the traffic was heavy, and the neon lights were flashing. This huge city continued to operate indifferently at its own pace, and would not be changed in the slightest by a movie or the joys and sorrows of a "Chen Jianguo".

But something in his heart has indeed changed.

It was something mixed with bitterness, resonance, and a faint yet ignited feeling... something that was hard to define as either comfort or strength.

……

The following day, December 5th, Saturday.

After its initial release, the discussion surrounding "The Pursuit of Happyness" continued to rise across nine regions.

The Beijing Evening News published a report as the lead story in its culture and entertainment section, with a rather direct title: "The Pursuit of Happyness Achieves a Success on its Opening Day, Earning 103 Million Yuan at the Box Office in Nine Regions!"

The article quickly listed box office data from major cities and quoted a cinema manager's comment: "Audience enthusiasm exceeded expectations, especially for afternoon and evening screenings, many of which were sold out. Many viewers brought their families, and the discussions after the screenings were very lively." The report also mentioned the polarized reactions to the film: "Some viewers found the film realistic and moving, giving it high praise as 'the best domestic film of the year'; but some younger viewers felt the film was 'too heavy' and 'made them feel choked up while watching it.'"

The film critic's article in the Tianjin Evening News was titled with strong emotion: "Ge You 'sheds his glamour,' Wang Sheng once again displays his 'Midas touch.'"

The article praises Ge You's performance as "a profound transformation, vividly portraying the resilience, predicament, and dignity of an ordinary person," and believes that Wang Sheng "once again accurately captured the pulse of society, responding to the questions of the times with an inspirational and heartwarming work."

The article predicts that, based on the opening day's performance, the film's total box office is likely to reach a new record.

The Suzhou Evening News took a more localized approach to reporting, emphasizing the ingenious connection between the "movie-viewing express" model and the film's content. The headline was "Happiness Knocks on the Door, 'Express' Popularity Continues."

The report stated that not only local audiences enthusiastically purchased tickets, but also viewers from surrounding cities and even Shanghai came to watch the film through various means, significantly boosting the business of restaurants and hotels around the cinema. The report also quoted several local middle-aged viewers' comments after watching the film: "It's like watching our own story," and "No matter how difficult it is, we have to keep moving forward."

The film critic's article in the Tianjin Evening News was titled with strong emotion: "Ge You 'sheds his glamour,' Wang Sheng once again displays his 'Midas touch.'"

The article praises Ge You's performance as "a profound transformation, vividly portraying the resilience, predicament, and dignity of an ordinary person," and believes that Wang Sheng "once again accurately captured the pulse of society, responding to the questions of the times with an inspirational and heartwarming work."

The article predicts that, based on the opening day's performance, the film's total box office is likely to reach a new record.

Other newspapers, such as Liangxi Daily, Pengcheng Metropolitan Daily, Longcheng Evening News, Jinghai Cultural News, and Guangling Evening News, also devoted considerable space to reporting on the film's booming box office on its opening day and the social discussions it sparked.

Most film reviews were positive, emphasizing its realistic significance and artistic value, but some also mentioned the opinions of some viewers who felt it was "depressing" or "not relaxing enough".

What truly brought the controversy to the public eye was a somewhat calm, even slightly sharp and critical commentary published in the culture section of the Jinling Daily, entitled "The Pursuit of Happyness: Spiritual Poison or a Mirror for Reality?"

This article is like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples.

The author begins by acknowledging that the film is well-made, features excellent performances, and possesses a powerful emotional force that is "tear-jerking."

But the tone shifts abruptly, pointing directly to the core issue: "The film gives Chen Jianguo a hopeful open ending, where he holds his son's hand and merges into the surging crowd at the stock exchange, as if a bright future is within reach."

This certainly meets the heartwarming needs of the Lunar New Year film season and caters to the audience's simple expectation that "good deeds will be rewarded."

However, we must soberly ask: In the massive wave of layoffs that swept through tens of millions in the late 1990s, faced with the cold, hard logic of reality, could countless real-life "Chen Jianguos" be so fortunate as to push open that narrow door called "happiness" through their own hard work?

The article further analyzes: "The film attributes Chen Jianguo's success largely to his own cultural foundation (English-Chinese Dictionary), his unwavering will, and his luck in seizing the financial wave."

This is undoubtedly a very tempting narrative—it tells the audience that as long as you work hard enough and persevere enough, you can defy fate like Chen Jianguo.

While offering a glimmer of hope, does this narrative also subtly shift the enormous costs of macroeconomic policy adjustments and social transformation onto individuals?

Is this a sugar-coating of "individual struggle determines everything," diluting or even beautifying the structural injustices and pain suffered by laid-off workers? Is this a "spiritual poison" to numb the pain and avoid deeper social contradictions?

This article, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, has sparked considerable discussion among intellectuals and readers.

(End of this chapter)