If you are a cheongsam enthusiast, then you must watch the Chinese drama Rattan (司藤).
With its novel and compact plot, perfect cast, refreshing cheongsam looks, and documentary-style live-action interpretation, it is a drama worth watching.
The story of a young designer, Qin Fang (Zhang Binbin), who meets Si Teng (Jing Tian), who has been asleep for decades, in the process of helping Si Teng to find the truth of her birth, the two get to know each other and overcome many obstacles to grow together.
As a classical oriental fantasy drama, the success of Rattan undoubtedly let us see the deep charm of Chinese mythology latent.
Perfect Character selection and setting
Wei Yu, the author of the Rattan original, specializes in fantasy themes with rich imagination and strong writing power. The female characters in her works mostly exude mature and independent femininity.
In the original novel, “Miss Si Teng” is the extreme image of a female protagonist who has been assassinated and fallen asleep for decades, and wakes up confused about the modern society she lives in, and plays a series of heartwarming and hilarious scenes.
When adapting the original work, which has a large fan base, the drama version of Rattan is full of sincerity and restoration. For example, as the core character of “Miss Si Teng”, the physical appearance of the actress Jing Tian make audience feel highly similar to the character in the book, with curved eyebrows and cheongsam beauty, elegant, noble and graceful, the original Republic of China retro style is so pleasing.
Unlike the traditional plot model where the female lead relies on male support, Rattan's narrative perspective focuses more on the growth and independence of the female self.
The character of Miss Si Teng is two-sided: the one saved by Qin Fang is kind and simple, full of curiosity about the new world, while the dead Bai Ying is the preservation of the evil part of Miss Si Teng.
Miss Si Teng has the contradictions and struggles of ordinary human beings, and the process of finding her own birth is also a process of self-redemption and choice, which makes the audience have strong resonance.
And the unique Rattan certainly gives the audience more choices. Women can stand alone and blossom beautifully, while the male protagonist is more respectful, considerate and loving to women, always warm to treat. This kind of gender harmony is the market trend and the concept of creating dramas that viewers will like to see.
Perfect combination of scenery and plot
For the drama series of Xianxia and fantasy drama, the construction of grand worldview, exquisite costumes and cultural flavor are the important elements for success, and Rattan's reputation and popularity are undoubtedly largely due to its conscientious production and real-life shooting, which not only tells a romantic and beautiful fantasy story, but also brings the audience to enjoy the magnificent landscape of China.
Miss Si Teng in the drama, is “the product of the alien Yi race, mutated in the southwest, ruthless, never defeated when the enemy.”
In order to truly restore the story scene, the crew spent nearly two months in the field to Yunnan, visiting Dali, Shangri-La, Xishuangbanna and other beautiful places in Yunnan, and finally presenting the audience with a colorful picture of Yunnan in the drama.
For Rattan, in addition to the beauty of the scenes, its deeper level allows the audience to appreciate the inner beauty of human nature. She was raised by the Taoist priest Qiu Shan, due to Si Teng's deep obsession, Qiushan transformed her, making it impossible for Sito to have normal emotions.
Miss Si Teng, who has suffered a lot of torture and abuse, is cold and powerful, but does not lose his original heart and kindness, facing the innocent and weak, she actively lends a helping hand, and when she encounters the forces of evil, she is righteous and good at fighting.
The audience can draw a strong positive energy from Miss Si Teng, which is not only powerful at the level of ability, but also powerful and beautiful at the level of consciousness and personality.
Interesting interpretation of Chinese traditional culture
The mythology of ancient Chinese landscapes has always been an important source for the creation of novels and dramas, for example, the popular Grave Robbers' Chronicles series is a typical case, and the development model of “strange stories” and “suspenseful battles” is a tried and tested one in the current market.
Reviewing the “Rattan”, it is easy to find that traditional culture and classical elements can be seen everywhere.
For example, the characters and scenes in the play are arranged in such a way that the white vine, impatiens balsamina, white Ying, King protea, are all typical traditional Chinese medicine materials.
In addition, the display of classical makeup, the embellishment of opera culture all make the audience feel the charm of traditional cultural elements while watching the fantasy story.
Stunning cheongsam styling in drama Rattan
Miss Si Teng's soul comes from the Republican era, her memory stays in the cheongsam era, Rattan's stylist, specially tailored dozens of cheongsams for Miss Si Teng, there are exquisite traditional type cheongsam, and there are also improved modern cheongsam.
Miss Si Teng's first appearance, wearing a pearl white silk embroidered cheongsam, long black hair permed into a delicate arc, carefully matched with pearl earrings, walking up to fold a slender waist to a slight step, graceful.
And as the plot advances to the 21st century, the first thing after Miss Si Teng resurrected, is to buy a new model of beaded lace cheongsam. She is indeed the right woman to wear cheongsam, there is a hidden arrogance and nobility between the hands and feet.
Miss Si Teng's love of shawls and cloaks has also continued for decades, and the Republican years of the embroidered lace cloak and the lake blue velvet cheongsam match is also stunning.
This match has not gone out of fashion in modern times, the vine around the pattern cheongsam plus embroidered flowing beads cloud shoulder cape.
Depending on the occasion, there will be different color choices. These cheongsams, to meet the classical temperament, to have a new era of aesthetics. Although it is difficult to show the complete details in the drama, but this is all sewn by the team of stylists stitch by stitch.
Because Miss Si Teng has part of the identity of plant genes, many embroidery patterns on the cheongsam also chose plants, such as flowers, leaves, vines.
The graceful body, the tightly sewn cheongsam, the exquisite jewelry, Jing Tian's interpretation, perfectly shaped a noble, domineering, lovely Si Teng.
Jing Tian's cheongsam look in the drama.
