wildswans
in your head
The best C-drama of 2021 so far
STORY/THEMES:
Min Ning Town is one of the most touching, hopeful, and realistic c-dramas I've ever had the chance of watching. Watching the drama felt like watching real life unfold in front of me - it was more of an experience, rather than pure entertainment. The story is quite straight forward - the government wants to build rural housing land and help promote poverty alleviation in Ningxia. From the 90s to the 2000s, it shows the ins and outs of the peasant life in rural Ningxia and the everyday challenges that they face - for example, growing mushrooms to sell, leaving town to work in a factory, younger vs older generation clashing, etc. There are also important themes that the drama addresses, such as the value of education, family/sibling sacrifice, etc. To me, I felt like this drama goes beyond simply a 'cdrama', it's one of those dramas that makes you think about the lessons in life (and luckily, the drama does so in a way that feels natural and not overbearingly preachy).
ACTING:
As as an ensemble drama, I can say confidently that every actor and actress brought their A game. Each character was beautifully acted, especially Shui Hua (acted by Rayzha Alimjan). She embodies warmth, tenacity, and resilience and you can't help but root for her in every scene you see her in. I also enjoyed the acting by Huang Xuan and Bai Yu Fan, who both acted as brothers in this drama, as well as Huang Yao as the hardworking and strong Bai Mai Miao. Finally, one of my favourite characters was Miao Miao's father, who was played by Zu Feng. His silent, unwavering support for his daughter was so beautiful to see, and I was inspired by how much he genuinely cared for his students as a teacher. Best Father/Teacher of the Year award goes to him!
DIRECTING/CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Absolutely stunning. The production crew went to Northwest China to film the drama and I love how realistic and raw the scenes are. There is none of the overly done CGI or pretty idol faces with perfect make up - it's just the actors, with dust covered on their faces, each who embody the roles they are given. The wide shots of the landscapes were gorgeous to watch, especially in the final scene.
OVERALL:
This is one of China's best dramas to date - excellent all around when it comes to directing, acting, script, cinematography, and production. While the story may not be for everyone, I encourage everyone to watch it, especially those of you who appreciate good TV. No nonsense, no cliches, no dragging - just a production with a lot of heart and soul, one where you can tell that they've done their best to perfect this drama. It's no wonder this has a 9.3 on Douban (China's IMBD).
Min Ning Town is one of the most touching, hopeful, and realistic c-dramas I've ever had the chance of watching. Watching the drama felt like watching real life unfold in front of me - it was more of an experience, rather than pure entertainment. The story is quite straight forward - the government wants to build rural housing land and help promote poverty alleviation in Ningxia. From the 90s to the 2000s, it shows the ins and outs of the peasant life in rural Ningxia and the everyday challenges that they face - for example, growing mushrooms to sell, leaving town to work in a factory, younger vs older generation clashing, etc. There are also important themes that the drama addresses, such as the value of education, family/sibling sacrifice, etc. To me, I felt like this drama goes beyond simply a 'cdrama', it's one of those dramas that makes you think about the lessons in life (and luckily, the drama does so in a way that feels natural and not overbearingly preachy).
ACTING:
As as an ensemble drama, I can say confidently that every actor and actress brought their A game. Each character was beautifully acted, especially Shui Hua (acted by Rayzha Alimjan). She embodies warmth, tenacity, and resilience and you can't help but root for her in every scene you see her in. I also enjoyed the acting by Huang Xuan and Bai Yu Fan, who both acted as brothers in this drama, as well as Huang Yao as the hardworking and strong Bai Mai Miao. Finally, one of my favourite characters was Miao Miao's father, who was played by Zu Feng. His silent, unwavering support for his daughter was so beautiful to see, and I was inspired by how much he genuinely cared for his students as a teacher. Best Father/Teacher of the Year award goes to him!
DIRECTING/CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Absolutely stunning. The production crew went to Northwest China to film the drama and I love how realistic and raw the scenes are. There is none of the overly done CGI or pretty idol faces with perfect make up - it's just the actors, with dust covered on their faces, each who embody the roles they are given. The wide shots of the landscapes were gorgeous to watch, especially in the final scene.
OVERALL:
This is one of China's best dramas to date - excellent all around when it comes to directing, acting, script, cinematography, and production. While the story may not be for everyone, I encourage everyone to watch it, especially those of you who appreciate good TV. No nonsense, no cliches, no dragging - just a production with a lot of heart and soul, one where you can tell that they've done their best to perfect this drama. It's no wonder this has a 9.3 on Douban (China's IMBD).
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