Wuxia drama “The Blood of Youth (少年歌行)” is adapted from the original novel of the same name by Zhou Munan, directed by Yin Tao, the original author Zhou Munan as a scriptwriter, the story tells a group of influential teenage chivalrous experts in the Jianghu world.
Since the broadcast of “The Blood of Youth”, it has become the first popular martial arts drama in 2023. At a time when the martial arts drama style is gradually weakening, this achievement is quite excellent. From the perspective of audience portraits, the main audience of “The Blood of Youth” is aged 18-24, and the audience aged 18-29 accounts for 80% of paying users. This is a martial arts drama that depends on the support of young audience.
The Blood of Youth can win the favor of young audiences because it reshapes the spirit of chivalry. It is a Wuxia drama and also an emotional drama full of hot blood and sincerity. Its special effects are outstanding, but it does not overwhelm main focus; it portrays many characters, but focuses on important plots instead of introducing them one by one. When the cost of investment is not high, there is even simplicity visible in many places, but it did spend money on important things. It has performing the fierce world, written the lasting affection of boys and girls and the scholar spirit, to meet the public to the martial arts world feelings appeal.
The Focus of Xia
The first definition of Xia (侠, chivalry) in “The Blood of Youth” was completed with martial arts scene.
There are three realms of martial arts drama. The first layer is the sense of authenticity of hitting; the second layer is to play the difference between each character under the premise that the logic of the world view is not contradictory. The third level, which is also the highest requirement, is to create a sense of beauty, or poetic quality on the basis of combining the first two. There are not many Wuxia dramas that can realize the third layer and play characteristics. But “The Blood of Youth” has tried its best to complete it.
First of all, it makes the audience felt the change of martial arts under different understanding of each character. Even brothers in the same master's homegate must have different understandings of a set of martial arts theory. How can the movements in martial arts be the same? In the past, many martial arts dramas have not been considered, or there is no room to consider this problem, but “The Blood of Youth” has considered.
The tricks of fighting in Wuxia drama can be generally divided into two categories, one is the skills of the court and the other is the skills in the Jianghu world. The so-called court generally refers to the army and camp. They don't want to be elegant and flexible, but only pay attention to actual combat.
“The Blood of Youth” also shows the difference between the two. In the scene where Xiao Se went to Tian Qi city, the enemy came from all directions, including the army. The rush between the Luocheng army and Hu Benlang is completely different from the confrontation in the Jianghu. The latter pays more attention to the subtlety of moves. The former is a pure collision of strength.
Secondly, “The Blood of Youth” not only pays attention to moves, but also highlights the impact of the environment on martial arts theory, and strengthens the beauty of fighting to a certain extent. For example, the fight scene of Xueluo villa, the sharp light of the knife and sword set off a storm and snow, just like thunder. The characters have both form and expression, and the moves are flowing smoothly.
In order to present a satisfying effect, the scene, CG and shooting techniques have to be combined. A large section of slow shots is good at highlighting artistic conception. In the multi-angle shooting at higher-than-normal frame rates shot, the cold wind, falling snow, hidden weapons and moves blend with each other to create a long-implication ink painting.
More importantly, the emotional relationship of characters in the drama also penetrates into the fight. Lei Wujie met Minghou and Yueji for the first time in the Xueluo villa. Although he also used the fire skill of hurting opponent but hurt himself, it was more like a young man's recklessness, just asking for victory. When everyone became friends with each other, Lei Wujie once again used the fighting for life method in Xianshan, but at this time, he was sober and had a determination to die, fighting to protect his friends.
A good martial arts drama can shoot real stories in the fictional world: the Jianghu world is fake, the characters are true; life and death are fake, and emotion is true. The martial arts world can be romantic, but not dissolute; it can be hot-blooded, but not affection-instigating. “The Blood of Youth” grasped this limit.
The Temperament of Xia
Martial arts is the foundation of chivalry, and temperament is the soul of chivalry. In the novel “The Return of the Condor Heroes”, Jin Yong, through Guo Jing expresses his thoughts: “for the country and the people, the greatest chivalry”, and the audience has never stopped chasing the chivalry.
In everyone's heart, there is a Jianghu dreams and the desire for chivalry. And what is chivalry? “The Blood of Youth” also gives an answer: young people should have their own Jianghu worlds.
Those who first enter the Jianghu world and master live in seclusion see differently. The world of the former must be clear, just like Lei Wujie, he treat everyone like friends and fighting is to learn by interaction. Even if the opponent uses a killing move, he is willing to deviate from an inch and spare the opponent's life. Not to mention, he often can't beat others.
Therefore, when he first killed people, his faith almost collapsed. This is a barrier that countless young heroes who break through the Jianghu world have to go through. Xiao Se enlightened him in time. In his opinion, the so-called Jianghu world is just like a mirror: when looking, what people see is their hearts.
Young people's Jianghu world, naturally, there is no shortage of teenagers' stories. This group of young people, led by Xiao Se, Lei Wujie and Ye Anshi, clearly outlined the image of young chivalrous man. They do anything for their friends, fall into the dilemma of master's homegate and friends, and finally sacrifice their own lives; they came thousands of miles for a promise of the past, even in the face of obstacles; they laughed together, cried together, and set off together along with the wind.
Objectively speaking, “The Blood of Youth” fills the demands of young audiences for chivalry. In this drama, there is chivalry, martial soul, awe-inspiring righteousness, and fighting power. It provides the courage, imagination of the strong and emotion to modern people, this is the core value it wants to convey.
It took 127 days to shoot, 430 places to set, 1,600 weapons to forge, braving rain and snow, and walking non-stop, to create today's The Blood of Youth. The audience's eyes are bright, and they are naturally willing to vote for the works made in good faith. Only when there are more and more works like “The Blood of Youth” can Wuxia dramas get better and better in the future.
