The True Colors of a Great Hero

I was having a meeting at the Bayi Film Studio around 30 years ago,where we were talking about how to write scripts on revolutionary history and military topics.

We have all readRed Star Over Chinaby Edgar Parks Snow,in which a large paragraph was dedicated to describing his interview with Chairman Mao Zedong in the cave dwelling in Yan’an.

According to the book,Chairman Mao talked with him for three whole days.During their conversation they spent stretches,Mao stood on his feet or lay down,in this case in a heatable brick bed common in Northern China.He smoked cigarettes and even searched over his body for ticks,which he threw into the fire or squeezed to death when caught.

These details have revealed to me greatness,sacredness,genius,and romance.

It was such big and broad topics the man was talking about,from the magnificent revolutionary history to his own thrilling and legendary experiences.From the situation in the border regions to the realities of China.From European and Pacific battlefields of World War II to the great vision of a new China about to be founded.

Yet what was he doing while talking about these complex and topics? Rolling up his pants to look for parasites.

Wouldn’t it be great to show a character and plot play out like this on the screen? A movie showing such a Mao Zedong in such vulnerable and intimate moments would just serve to humanize him,making his greatness all the real and striking.

(FromOn Poverty,Wealthiness and Desire,Zhejiang Literature and Art Publishing House.Translation:Lu Qiongyao)

Mao Zedong chatting with a vendor on the street毛泽东和街边小贩聊家常

三十多年前，八一电影制片厂召集我们开会，讨论革命历史、军事题材电影剧本的创作问题。

我们都读过斯诺的《西行漫记》，这本书里用了一大段来描写他在延安窑洞里采访毛泽东主席的经过。

书里写道，毛泽东主席跟他谈了三天三夜，一会儿站着说，一会儿躺在炕上说，一会儿抽着烟说，一会儿从身上捉着寄生虫说。那些被捉的寄生虫，有的扔到炉子里，有的用指甲挤死。

我从这个细节里，读到了伟大，读到了神圣，读到了天才，读到了浪漫。

他谈的是波澜壮阔的革命历史，谈的是他个人惊险传奇的亲身经历，谈的是边区的形势，谈的是中国的形势，谈的是第二次世界大战的欧洲战场、太平洋战场，谈的是建立新中国的伟大憧憬，全是高大上的话题。

在什么情况下谈？是在拉着裤腰捉着虱子的情况下谈的，这就是大英雄的本色。

这样的人物，这样的情节，如果在银幕上展现，不就是伟大的作品吗？这样的电影，这样的毛泽东，会让我们感觉到无比的亲切。

（摘自《贫富与欲望》浙江文艺出版社 图/沈尧伊）