How Dying to Survive became a China box-office phenomenon

江苏白蒲高级中学 宗越琴

2018年暑假，一部由宁浩和徐峥共同监制，文牧野执导，徐峥主演的电影《我不是药神》引发了一波观影热潮。电影讲述的是一个普通人因为卖药而变成英雄的故事。那么，这部电影到底为什么能还未正式上映就已刷屏，口碑票房俱佳，成为中国票房的一种现象呢？

China's latest blockbuster（大片）,Dying to Survive,pulled offa rare achievement of box-office magic this week：Itmanaged toearn$50 million before it even opened.

An exciting social drama with black comedy,Dying to Survive premiered(首映)to receive praisingreviewsat the Shanghai International Film Festival in late June.It then made apromotionaltour,holding limited screenings in select cities across the country.With each stop,enthusiasm increased,and the film soon became China's most widely discussed,critically praised movie in years,scoring a 9.7/10 rating on ticketing service Maoyan.

So why people liked it so much?

Produced by Chinese hit maker Ning Hao,Dying to Survive tells the story of a health supplements supplier,played by comedian Xu Zheng,who smuggles(走私)unapproveddrugsfromIndiatosellto leukemia(白血病)patients who can't afford the expensive official medicine offered by Chinese hospitals.Initiallyinspiredby small financial interest,the smuggler's motivesevolveas he realizes how desperately his customers need help.

The film is based on the real-life story of Lu Yong,a trader who was diagnosed with leukemia and spent over$80,000on official medicine before turning to smuggling a vastlycheaper alternative from India.He went on to save more than 1,000 lives by bringing the drug into China for other patients,before he was arrested and charged in 2014 with selling fake drugs.

Hundreds of leukemia survivors Lu had helped then request his release,and he was finally freed withoutpunishmentby a judge who praised Lu for the way he had never personally profited from the drug sales.A critic said,“If someonecommits a crimein order to profit from it,they are simply a criminal.But if someone has to commit a crime in order to survive,society must take a look at itself and ask who the guilty ones really are.”

Critics have praised Dying to Survive,directed by 33-year-old director Wen Muye,as a creativebreakthroughfor the Chinese film industry—a rare work ofarousing social awarenessfrom a film scene typicallyblockedby censorship(审查制度)fromaddressingtopics related to China's real-life problems.Several preview screenings have ended in applause.

Reading Check

1.Why did people like the film so much？

A.It is produced by Ning Hao,a Chinese hit maker.

B.It is adapted from a real-life story of Lu Yong.

C.It is moving and receives great praise from critics.

D.It arouses social awareness about real life problems.

2.Where is the passage probably from?

A.A fashion magazine.

B.A film review.

C.A research report.

D.An advertising booklet.

Language Study

Ⅰ.Words in the context

Ⅱ.Difficult sentences

1.Produced by Chinese hit maker Ning Hao,Dying to Survive tells the story of a health supplements supplier,played by comedian Xu Zheng,who smuggles unapproved drugs from India to sell to leukemia patients who can't afford the expensive official medicine offered by Chinese hospitals.

翻译：______________________________

【点石成金】本句的主句部分是Dying to Survive tells the story of a health supplements supplier。produced by Chinese hit maker Ning Hao是过去分词作定语，修饰Dying to Survive。played by comedian Xu Zheng是过去分词作定语，修饰a health supplements supplier。who引导定语从句，修饰先行词Xu Zheng。在定语从句中还有一个who引导的定语从句，修饰先行词leukemia patients。

2.The film is based on the real-life story of Lu Yong,a trader who was diagnosed with leukemia and spent over$80,000 on official medicine before turning to smuggling a vastly cheaper alternative from India.

翻译：_____________________________

【点石成金】本句中，a trader是同位语，同位语部分含有一个由who引导的定语从句，从句中and连接两个并列的谓语was diagnosed和spent。

Using Language

Ⅰ.Important vocabulary in the text Words

1.promotional adj.广告宣传的；推销的

2.supplement n.增补（物）；补充（物）；添加物

3.unapproved adj.未经同意的；未获批准的

4.inspire v.激励，鼓舞；赋予灵感；

5.evolve v.（使）逐步发展，演变；形成；进化

6.alternative n.可供选择的事物

7.punishment n.惩罚；处罚；刑罚

7.breakthrough n.重大进展；突破

9.block v.阻碍；妨碍

Phrases

1.pull off完成（困难的事情）

2.manage to do sth设法做成某事

3.be diagnosed with被诊断患有……

4.commit a crime犯罪

5.arouse social awareness唤起社会意识

Ⅱ.Complete the following sentences in correct forms with the above vocabulary.

1.He planned to __________a conference on human rights next week.

2_______.__by the sunny weather,I decided to explore the woods.

3.Facing difficulty,he carefully assessed what practical _________were open to him.

4.We somehow __________get to the airport in time.

5.Participating in public welfare activities will _________a young person's _________.