Apparently, the most talked about TV series in China right now is Red Sorghum, currently broadcasting on four major networks. And here are a few reasons why you might want to tune in: 1) It’s adapted from the novel Red Sorghum Clan by Nobel Prize-winning author Mo Yan, which already had a renowned film adaptation in 1987; 2) it’s directed by Zheng Xiaolong, best known for helming Legend of Zhen Huan; 3) and it’s Zhou Xun’s first return to the small screen after more than a decade.
正在四大卫视热播的《红高粱》显然是最近讨论最多的电视剧。那么，这部剧又有什么看点？首先，该剧改编自诺奖得主莫言的小说《红高粱家族》，并且在1987年已有一版家喻户晓的电影作品；其次，它的导演郑晓龙曾执导过中国电视剧的“巅峰之作”《甄嬛传》；最后，这也是周迅十年后重返电视荧屏的作品。
After watching almost one third of the 60-episode saga, I’m pretty sure the series doesn’t disappoint — and sometimes it’s even better than I expected. But can it have an enduring impact like the Legend of Zhen Huan, or even its film predecessor? I’m a little skeptical.
该剧共60集，在看过了近三分之一之后，它确实没有让我失望，甚至在某些方面超过了我的预期。但是，这部剧能否像《甄嬛传》那样余温不散，甚至拥有87年同名电影那样的影响力？我还是略有怀疑的。It’s the same story of the brutal unrest of rural China in the late 1920s and 30s. But if you’ve read the novel or watched Zhang Yimou’s film version, it’s easy to get confused early in the show. There’re quite a few newly added characters, such as Jiu’er’s first love and sister-in-law, and more storylines that you’re just not familiar with.
该剧以二十世纪二、三十年代动荡的中国农村为背景，如果你是原著党，或曾看过张艺谋的电影版，那么你一开始可能会有些不适应这部剧，因为其中不仅增加了新角色（如九儿的初恋和大嫂），还添加了很多新情节。
This doesn’t mean it’s a bad adaptation, though. Whereas the film focuses more on social and political dynamics to reflect the spirit of the novel, the TV series pays more attention to detail and reflects lesser explored aspects of the book. To some extent, it has no choice — a TV series requires more substance to fill in long hours with content. Meanwhile, it’s more accessible to a television audience.
但这并不代表它是一部失败的改编作品。相较着重通过社会与政治动荡表现小说精神的电影版，电视剧版《红高粱》则更注重细节，展现出了小说中尚未深挖的方面。从某种程度而言，这也是别无选择，因为电视剧的时长更长，需要加入更多内容才能完成。同时，丰富的剧情也更符合电视观众的口味。The biggest surprise in Red Sorghum is undoubtedly Zhou Xun. Although she’s mostly known for making movies, Zhou has portrayed a couple of classic TV characters, such as Huang Rong in Legend of the Condor Heroes and the young Princess Taiping in Palace of Desire. Obviously, her elegant pixie-like features haven’t kept her from pulling off the role of the 19-year-old Jiu’er. Not as natural as Gong Li’s portrayal, though, Zhou certainly delivers a powerful new voice through the character.
电视剧《红高粱》中最令人惊艳的莫过于周迅了。虽然，她的电影作品多为人熟知，但她也曾成功塑造过一些经典的电视剧角色，比如《射雕英雄传》中的黄蓉，《大明宫词》中的小太平。而此次，具有古灵精怪气质的周迅同样成功拿下19岁的九儿这个角色。相较于巩俐饰演的更加淳朴的九儿，周迅刻画了一个更具个性的九儿。Mo’s novel conveys a strong and evocative tone. My concern, also my hope, for future episodes (especially after entering the Japanese invasion phase) is that the symbolism of red sorghum, the metaphor for change and loss in a particular time and place, can shine through.
莫言的原著笔触时代感浓郁，引人深思。因此，未来的剧集（尤其是抗日战争开始后）能否成功表现出红高粱的象征与隐喻，淋漓尽致地展现这一特定历史背景下的动荡与迷茫？让我们拭目以待！