Written By Song Xiangqian (Alan Song)

Recently, Wong Kar-wai's TV series "Blooming Flowers" has received widespread acclaim, with lead and supporting actors delivering outstanding performances. The costumes, makeup, props, especially the lighting and cinematography, meet the standards of a cinematic masterpiece. The 30-episode series boasts a fast-paced and captivating plot, leaving the audience exhilarated. During the initial broadcast, the streets were deserted, a rare sight.

The work pays deep respect to the era, condensing the stories of many individuals, capturing the soul-stirring essence of the times. It encapsulates the challenges and fluctuations of reforms in foreign trade, the capital market, Pudong Development Zone, and more. As I watched, I deeply empathized with the barrage of comments, shedding tears as we collectively reminisced about the beautiful moments we once had. The vibrant and luminous days of that era, named "Blooming Flowers" and embedded in history, continue to echo in our hearts.

It's a luminous era, deserving of a sparkling masterpiece. Art originates from life and transcends it, and Wong Kar-wai has achieved just that. "Blooming Flowers" is a nostalgic tribute to the era, reminding the audience that it was an era for ordinary people, and in the radiant years, as long as one works hard, everyone can shine.

• 01 - Blooms Belonging to Shanghai

The flavor of human life is the most soothing. "Blooming Flowers" skillfully connects historical landmarks from Huanghe Road to Zhenyuan, Jin Xian Road to the nightlife of Tokyo, using elements like Shanghai rice, pork ribs rice cake, Cadillac, Walmart, jeans, stock subscription certificates, and Shanghai Lian Shang Department Store. It weaves together the memories of the past two decades, narrating the colorful and vibrant aspects of that era. It was a time filled with an air of hope, where the spirit of freedom flowed everywhere, and everyone believed in a better tomorrow. The stories of Miss Wang and Chief Jin at Bund No. 27 confirm why Shanghai is always regarded as China's city with the most business logic and rules.

"Blooming Flowers" pioneers a TV series that empowers and represents a city. Since "Beijing Meets Seattle," Shanghai finally has its own "Blooming Flowers," presented in the local Shanghainese language, interspersed with various dialects and languages such as Subei dialect, Ningbo dialect, Suzhou dialect, Haining dialect, Shaanxi dialect, Japanese, and English. This serves as a city's calling card, a dialogue between the city, its citizens, and the era, showcasing cultural confidence and pride.

The series, rooted in historical landmarks like Huanghe Road, Jin Xian Road, Nanjing Road, and the Peace Hotel, effortlessly transitions and outlines nearly two decades of historical depth. It subtly includes rich historical materials and significant events, portraying a journey from reality to art, from limited to limitless, from local to global, touching the hearts of the audience.

The original novel of "Blooming Flowers" focused on business warfare related to foreign trade, without content about the capital market. The TV adaptation combines parts of Ying Jianzhong's novel "Joys and Sorrows in the Stock Market," with Ying serving as a consultant for the stock market-related scenes. The series, set in an era where Shanghai had the highest proportion of stock traders, adds depth and reflection on stock market characters and events, making "Blooming Flowers" not just a novel but a multi-perspective portrayal of Shanghai's rhythmic heartbeat during that era.

• 02 -Wong Kar-wai Still Exists

Director Wong Kar-wai, through a TV series, allows viewers to see a myriad of classic events and characters projected onto the real world, refining the spirit of a city, an era, and a generation. "Blooming Flowers" becomes a defining event of an era, even evolving into a cultural phenomenon.

The high-quality original novel by Jin Yucheng won the 9th Mao Dun Literature Prize, and the TV adaptation, enriched with stock market plots, maintains its richness. The powerful adaptation ability of the screenwriters, combined with Wong Kar-wai's unique historical storytelling and cinematography, focuses on character portrayal, creating an excellent aesthetic experience that reflects the charm and confidence of culture.

Wong Kar-wai once again shocks an industry accustomed to hasty productions with his obsessive professionalism. He is both lonely and rich. His lonely persistence remains remarkably aesthetic.

From script selection to a dedicated four to five years of filming, the cast includes local actors such as Hu Ge, Ma Yili, Tang Yan, Chen Long, and Zheng Kai. Actors like Xin Zhi Lei refreshingly reach new heights in beauty and acting. Wong Kar-wai even brought in veteran actor You Benchang to play the mysterious uncle behind Bao Zong. Inviting various local personalities for cameo appearances, such as pianist Kong Xiangdong, painter Chen Yiming, Peking opera actor Shi Yihong, football celebrity Fan Zhiyi, folk stock commentator Ying Jianzhong, and customizing a film and television base to meticulously recreate scenes and purchase all copyrights for background music—all these details reflect the dignity of professional achievement.

Through his work, he conveys the message that being meticulous, serious, honest, and professional leads to a way out, value, and dignity. In this sense, Wong Kar-wai, as a "Shanghainese" who moved to Hong Kong at the age of five, has become a grandmaster through memories and portrayals of China's "Tale of Two Cities," demonstrating the value and inspirational significance of his seriousness and perseverance.

• 03 -The Code to Happiness

The universe is vast, and every corner is warm. Each generation has its own fate, and though stories may differ, the code to human happiness shares similarities.

In the fleeting passage of time, from the moment A Bao meets Xue Zhi, they undergo numerous entanglements and miss true love. When Miss Wang and A Bao rush to each other, the glow around them, the music in their ears—it resonates with the warmth and heart-to-heart connection we experienced in our youth. Despite lamenting A Bao's ultimate solitude, it is believed he is still happy because he was sincerely and passionately loved by Lingzi and Miss Wang, even though Li Li, who plotted to open a restaurant on Huanghe Road, had ulterior motives.

Instead of questioning which segment of A Bao's relationships with the female leads was true love, "Blooming Flowers" touches viewers through various aspects of the characters' relationships. The love between people has transcended romantic love, determining the course of destiny and revealing the code to human happiness. A Bao's compassion extends not only to women but also to the taxi driver who accidentally hit him, the son of Argen, who committed suicide due to stock speculation failure, and even Cai, who willingly took the blame for leaking information. The relationships between A Bao and Tao Tao, Lingzi and Ling Hong, the "Rice Ball" gang in Night Tokyo facing storms of life, the reunion of Fan Zong and Miss Wang, the camaraderie between Lucy, Min Min, and "Little Jiangxi," the reconciliation between uncles and the head of Bund No. 27—various encounters, conflicts, and genuine emotions among characters are rich and uplifting, transcending the darkness of reality.

"The Blooming Flowers" is not only an elegy for the era but also its indelible mark. Sincerely loving, flowers will always bloom.