Recently, the film “The Dream of Red Mansions” 2024, directed by Hu Mei, has suffered significant failure both in box office revenue and reputation since its release. Particularly, Zhang Miao-di, who played the female lead Lin Daiyu, sparked major controversy as many viewers felt she was not beautiful enough for the role. In response to the audience’s feedback, director Hu Mei issued a statement acknowledging the criticism but also accused someone of using AI-generated data to post negative reviews about the film, revealing that she has entrusted the evidence to her lawyer.
The success of a film is not solely dependent on subjective reviews on social media. The film industry has its own criteria for evaluation, including production quality, marketing strategy, and alignment with audience tastes. A film’s box office performance depends on many complex factors, including some that filmmakers cannot fully control. “The Dream of Red Mansions” is a classic literary work with a complex structure and diverse character system. Adapting this work into a film is a significant challenge for any filmmaker.
Negative reviews of the new 2024 adaptation of “The Dream of Red Mansions” have inadvertently led audiences back to the classic 1987 version. Comparisons are inevitable, given that the older version set a nearly perfect standard. From acting and appearance to even the smallest details, everything was scrutinized. This places later versions at a disadvantage, making it difficult for them to shine under the large shadow of their predecessor.
The 1987 version of “The Dream of Red Mansions” was once considered a pinnacle of achievement, but standards of beauty and art evolve over time. Even Chen Xiaoxu, a symbol of her era, faced mixed opinions. This highlights that no work is absolutely perfect and there will always be different perspectives.
Remaking classic works, though challenging, provides filmmakers the chance to showcase their talent and unique viewpoints. Hu Mei and Li Shaohong are prime examples. Although the results may not have met all expectations, their courage in tackling a classic deserves recognition. It’s only by daring to challenge ourselves that we can explore our own and art’s latent potentials.
However, adapting a classic work requires not just bravery but also a deep understanding of it. We need to investigate why it became a classic and the elements that contributed to its success. The 1987 version of “The Dream of Red Mansions” is a prime example. The production team invested significant effort to research and faithfully recreate the essence of the original work.
Adapting “The Dream of Red Mansions” is a significant challenge for any director, even someone as talented as Hu Mei. The pressure from fans of the original work is immense. However, the main reason for the failure of the 2024 adaptation lies in its deviation from the essence of the original work, from character development to plot direction.
The inexperience of the young cast is one reason for the mixed reviews the film received. When taking on iconic roles, young actors inevitably face comparisons with their predecessors. Portraying the depth and psychological complexity of characters like Lin Daiyu and Jia Baoyu is a major challenge, requiring extensive experience and acting skills. Unfortunately, the young cast in the 2024 adaptation failed to capture the depth and nuance of the characters, significantly diminishing the emotional resonance with the audience.
The plot of the 2024 adaptation also suffers from disruption, with character relationships lacking the logic and depth of the original. Many viewers felt they were watching an entirely different story that is no longer the “The Dream of Red Mansions” they cherished. This has led to questions about the filmmakers’ respect for the original work.
With an investment of 200 million RMB, the film’s performance was disappointing, earning only 4.5 million RMB. This failure raises questions about the film’s production quality. Beneath the external gloss, the film was poorly handled, with a focus solely on media promotion, causing it to lose its core value.
The film’s failure serves as a warning for adaptations. Audiences expect filmmakers to respect classic literary works, rather than producing clumsy and crude imitations. Successful Chinese films this summer, like “Successor”, demonstrate that with a good script, excellent acting, and meticulous investment, filmmakers can create works that satisfy audiences while respecting the original material. The failure of the 2024 adaptation of “The Dream of Red Mansions” is a valuable lesson, reminding filmmakers of the importance of investing intellectual effort and passion into each project.
Although “The Dream of Red Mansions” failed, it leaves a profound lesson: the success of an adaptation lies not just in its external appearance but in the respect and deep exploration of the original work’s essence. Cinema needs filmmakers who are passionate and capable of blending creativity with respect to bring classic works closer to contemporary audiences.
