Century Pictures

Author: Wang Chunhua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Fortunately, during that period, Shanghai filmmakers began to experiment with dubbing voice-over work. Shu Xiwen was invited to participate, and together with the team, they paved the way for voice-over performance. With careful role study and meticulous analysis of the original actors' performances, Shu Xiwen demonstrated her profound skills, delivering rich, vivid, and passionate voice-overs. She made significant contributions to Shanghai's dubbed films, and the article she wrote remains a highly influential work in the field of dubbed film creation. Although she had limited formal education, Shu Xiwen enjoyed writing and often summarized her performance insights, penning essays. Due to her frustration with the lack of film opportunities, she published an article titled Please Think More About Film Actresses, advocating for the hiring of actresses like herself, who had transitioned from the old era to the new society. However, her calls went unanswered, as one after another, film roles passed her by, even slipping through her hands. As the times and her fate evolved, Shu Xiwen stumbled along, with her pillars of life—family, career, and love—graduallying. In 1957, at the age of forty-two, Shu Xiwen left Shanghai, reluctantly bidding farewell to the screen and her marriage. Arranged by friends like Zhou Enlai and his wife, she joined the Beijing People's Art Theater. At that time, the Beijing People's Art Theater was a vibrant collective, and in many people's eyes, Shu Xiwen was a senior figure, a big sister. She suppressed her fiery and competitive nature, embracing patience and tranquility as she stepped into her new life role. She quickly integrated into the theater family and became a cherished memory for many. Shu Xiwen's salary was relatively high during that time, and she received material support, such as supplies of soybeans and eggs. She always shared these with those in greater need, especially the sick. Having endured life's hardships early on and shouldering family responsibilities, she did not become selfish but instead developed a sense of chivalry, often helping others without expecting anything in return—a quality she always maintained. In her son Shu Zhaoyuan's memory, the Capital Theater was filled with laughter and joy, and indeed, for a few years, Shu Xiwen enjoyed sunshine there. She loved the stage, and the stage loved her. As if endowed with a magic, when the theater's bell rang, she was no longer herself—she was Hu Niu, she was Su Fang, she was Keliya. On stage, she was the woman in people's hearts: bold, passionate, and unafraid to laugh or cry. In various versions of Rickshaw Boy, Shu Xiwen's portrayal of Hu Niu was the best, but unfortunately, no footage of her "Hu Niu" has survived. However, in contrast to the passion and applause on stage, there was loneliness and torment behind the scenes. In those days when words had nowhere to go, after performing, she was often accompanied only by a nanny, and life continued like this for many years. The constant instability took a toll on her health, causing her heart to occasionally fail, and the condition worsened over time. In the 1960s, she spent much of her time fighting illness. Fortunately, she faced treatment with optimism and received ample care and concern from those around her, still holding onto hope for her career. Treating acting as her life's purpose, Shu Xiwen could never forget her vow at the age of sixteen—to act for her entire life, even if she died, she wanted to die on stage. But such an opportunity no longer existed, as a fierce storm was brewing outside. One day, the special case team arrived, locking her in a room for interrogation and beating her. It was her first time being beaten. After each ordeal, Shu Xiwen would smooth her hair and simply say, "This is part of the mass movement." She knew the gravity of the situation but had no choice. During that time, like many others, Shu Xiwen experienced unprecedented indifference and endured everything silently. Those who condemned her demanded she write self-criticism, and on a few thin sheets of paper, Shu Xiwen reviewed her life's journey. Sometimes, her granddaughter Qu Qingyun would bring back pamphlets printed with "" (US-ROC spy Shu Xiwen) that she saw in Xidan and show them to her. Shu Xiwen would laugh after reading them, saying, "Look at this—so many things I don't even know are being blamed on me?" At that time, there were two factions: one that persecuted her, and one that protected her. Those who protected her allowed her to stay at Tongren Hospital, while those who persecuted her denied her medical treatment. In the hospital, there was a mother and daughter who were extremely poor, earning money by sewing buttons. Shu Xiwen helped them every day, waking up earlier than they did and staying up even after they slept to sew buttons for others. She said, "If I don't help them, how will they survive?" P10-11