The World

Synopsis

"A Lifelong Journey" is adapted from the novel of the same name by Liang Xiaosheng, which won the Mao Dun Literature Award. Directed by Li Lu and starring Lei Jiayin, Xin Baiqing, Song Jia, and Yin Tao, the series is set in the Guangzipin community of a northern city. It follows the fifty-year journey of the three siblings of the Zhou family, showcasing the profound changes in Chinese society from the 1970s to the early 21st century. The series has won the Magnolia Award, Golden Eagle Award, and Feitian Award, and holds a Douban rating of 8.4.

Overview

A Lifelong Journey is a 2022 realistic TV drama produced by China Central Television (CCTV), adapted from the full-length novel of the same name by Liang Xiaosheng, which won the Mao Dun Literature Prize. Directed by Li Lu, written by Wang Hailing and Wang Da'ou, starring Lei Jiayin, Xin Baiqing, Song Jia, and Yin Tao, with supporting performances by actors such as Ding Yongdai and Sa Rina, and narrated by Chen Daoming. The series consists of 58 episodes, premiering on CCTV-1 on January 28, 2022, with a Douban rating of 8.4.

The drama is the undisputed TV series of the year for 2022, achieving an unprecedented feat by sweeping the Best TV Series awards and numerous individual awards at China's three highest television honors: the Magnolia Awards, the Golden Eagle Awards, and the Flying Apsaras Awards. Lei Jiayin, portraying Zhou Bingkun, swept the Best Actor awards at all three major ceremonies, becoming one of the most influential screen characters of the year.

Plot

The story is set against the backdrop of Guangzipian, a fictional working-class neighborhood in the northern city of Jichun, and revolves around the life experiences of the three siblings of the Zhou family. The father, Zhou Zhigang (played by Ding Yongdai), is a construction worker, and the mother (played by Sa Rina) is a typical traditional Chinese mother. The three children have distinct personalities and embark on completely different life paths.

The eldest son, Zhou Bingyi (played by Xin Baiqing), excels in both character and scholarship. From his time as an educated youth to his political career after the reform and opening-up, he faces various trials in his official career but always adheres to his original aspiration of serving the people. The daughter, Zhou Rong (played by Song Jia), is a talented intellectual who pursues freedom and ideals; her emotional journey is complex and moving. The youngest son, Zhou Bingkun (played by Lei Jiayin), stays by his parents' side, living an ordinary life in Guangzipian. Together with his wife, Zheng Juan (played by Yin Tao), they weather life's joys and hardships.

Spanning approximately fifty years, from the 1970s' "Educated Youth Going to the Countryside" movement, through the reform and opening-up, state-owned enterprise reforms, and the wave of the market economy, to the social changes of the early 21st century, the story presents a panoramic view of the fate of ordinary Chinese families amidst the great changes of the times through the lives of the three Zhou siblings and their neighbors in Guangzipian. The series features both grand historical backdrops and delicate details of daily life, tightly interweaving personal destinies with national development.

Cast

Awards

Cultural Impact

During its broadcast, A Lifelong Journey repeatedly achieved record-high viewership ratings, setting recent ratings records in the prime-time slot on CCTV-1. The depiction of life in Guangzipian evoked collective memories of bygone years for countless viewers, especially those who lived through that era, seeing reflections of their own youth in the series.

Lei Jiayin's portrayal of Zhou Bingkun is the soul of the series. This character performs no earth-shattering feats; he is simply an ordinary person striving to live within the torrent of the times. With nuanced and sincere acting, Lei Jiayin deeply portrayed Zhou Bingkun's simplicity, kindness, and resilience, moving countless viewers. Yin Tao's performance as Zheng Juan was also widely praised; she convincingly portrayed the image of a resilient yet gentle Chinese woman.

The series is also a successful example of adapting a Mao Dun Literature Prize-winning work for the screen. Original author Liang Xiaosheng highly praised the TV adaptation, believing the production team faithfully captured the novel's spiritual core. Director Li Lu, who previously directed In the Name of the People, once again demonstrated profound skill in handling a grand narrative, condensing fifty years of historical change into 58 episodes, achieving both the weight of an epic and the warmth of everyday life.

References

1. Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/35207856/
2. Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/人世间/23576550
3. Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/人世间_(电视剧)