Global Lords: I Have Information System

If you want to present it fully, the film needs to express too much information, even though the film lasts for 144 minutes, it ultimately interprets only some important nodes. For example, the process of Wei Long initially coming to her aunt’s house, gradually adapting to upper-class life, and becoming a socialite among the elite circle is not explained in the film, and is merely replaced by ”one year later.”

The film starts with the transformation of Ge Weilong’s character, presenting her relationship with Qiaoqi and her role change in love, from being controlled to being the controller. But by the end of the story, she couldn’t even get Qiaoqi to tell a lie.

Image source: Sina Weibo @TheFirstIncenseOfficial

Her process of falling in love with Qiaoqi is promoted by several important scenes.

One scene is the first meeting with Qiaoqi, where the two sit side by side on a tree trunk, and Qiaoqi recites a Portuguese love poem to Wei Long. Another scene is where Wei Long probes Qiaoqi about his thoughts on the future, and Qiaoqi says, ”I plan to never marry, but I can promise you happiness.” She leans into Qiaoqi’s arms, trembling all over, saying she must be crazy.

In another scene, Wei Long and Qiaoqi have a tryst, the camera first shows Qiaoqi lying on the empty bed, thinking Wei Long is not there, then turns to find her curled up in the corner, staring blankly at him.

The film progresses to a climax, Wei Long is determined to make money to support Qiaoqi, even if facing unequal contributions in love, she still leaps forward, without hesitation.

In terms of Ma Sichun’s most outstanding performance in the movie, it is her complete recognition of reality, loving and hating Qiaoqi, the scene before going to Shanghai hugging him. On screen, she starts smiling at the corners of her mouth, then becomes sad again. Wei Long’s determination and sorrow, exchanging sincerity for Qiaoqi’s ”momentary love,” Ma Sichun gave a decent interpretation.

Image source: Sina Weibo @TheFirstIncenseOfficial

Playing Ge Weilong was certainly a challenge for Ma Sichun, facing not only the general audience but also a vast number of readers of Eileen Chang’s novels. Director Ann Hui said, ”Actually, it’s unfortunate, I don’t care myself, but this time it made Ma Sichun suffer miserably, because she was criticized for two years.”

In December 2018, due to Ma Sichun’s ”The First Incense” reading reflection on Weibo backfiring, blogger @ElegantNightWalkingsMaster sarcastically said, ”You can’t say Ma Sichun’s reading reflection is completely wrong, although a thousand readers have a thousand Hamlets, some even see Hamlet as Harry Potter.”

During filming, Ma Sichun couldn’t sleep due to public opinion but had to continue acting. Indeed, from a performance point of view, Ma Sichun’s portrayal of the character was not deep enough, and her acting was criticized. But she shouldn’t bear all the attacks and blame, especially since some criticisms were unreasonable bandwagoning, even malicious body-shaming.

Peng Yuyan received relatively less attack. When Zhou Jie said, ”Mixed-race always has a bit of gloominess, and a little girl’s temperament.” The next second, Peng Yuyan comes out holding champagne, his skin dark, his body muscular, prompting laughter in the theater.

Indeed, Peng Yuyan couldn’t satisfy the morbid characters in Eileen Chang’s writing, ”even lips pale, like a plaster statue.” But looking closely, his features are deep, his nose slightly indented, having a mixed-race look similar to foreigners. Moreover, Peng Yuyan indeed acted out Qiao Qiao, a man who knows he cannot achieve fame, focusing on being a debauchee with a charming image.

Image source: Sina Weibo @TheFirstIncenseOfficial

Of course, Yu Feihong’s portrayal of Madam Liang is the least controversial in this drama. This image represents the hypocritical side of Hong Kong high society before the war.

At gatherings, people speak beautifully while clinking glasses, indulging is packaged as full of decorum, making their degeneration seem legitimate. Ann Hui excels at filming women, especially middle-aged women, her past masterpiece ”Summer Snow” being the best evidence. So in handling the role of Madam Liang, Ann Hui is more adept.

The film spent more time on the character of Madam Liang, such as waking in the middle of the night, lighting a cigarette, leaning against the wall, feeling lonely in the empty large room. For example, recalling her husband’s funeral, Madam Liang wears high heels, following the mourning procession, her heel breaks, she simply takes off her shoes, turns around, and walks back. There’s also a scene watching Wei Long’s wedding, remembering when she knelt to serve tea to the previous wife as she entered the household.

It is precisely this way that Madam Liang’s image breaks through people’s understanding of her in the original work and contrasts with Ge Weilong’s character interpretation. Ge Weilong’s story in the film and the novel is almost the same, even though the post-marriage storyline is extended, it has not been enriched more specifically, which might be the potential reason for the failure of Ge Weilong’s character shaping.

Matching the original character choice is certainly the most correct way, but it is not the only one. As an auteur film, director Ann Hui should persuade the audience that Qiaoqi can be Peng Yuyan, and Ge Weilong can be Ma Sichun.

Not perfectly matching the original might not be the actors’ ”fault.”

The ”Waterloo” of the dream team

Director Ann Hui, screenwriter Wang Anyi, cinematographer Christopher Doyle, composer Ryuichi Sakamoto... The production team of The First Incense is indeed a dream team.

Ann Hui said in ”The First Incense Creation Special,” ”They have all won Oscars, they all work for the specific needs of each scene, not thinking about their past achievements, so they can do so well.”

However, the super strong behind-the-scenes team did not guarantee the film’s box office success. ”The First Incense” made only over 24 million yuan in the four days after its release. On the same day, ”Dune” was released, and its box office has already surpassed 100 million yuan.

Human nature is originally good, if not taught cats don’t jump.

In front of the bed, the bright moonlight appears to be frost on the ground, lifting my head I gaze at the bright moon, lowering it I think of my hometown.