Affair of Half a Lifetime
Encyclopedia
Affair of Half a Lifetime is a 2003 drama-romance TV series based on the novel of the same name by Chinese
author Eileen Chang
. The series star Ruby Lin
, Patrick Tam
, Jiang Qinqin
and Li Liqun. It had the most simultaneous broadcasts on China cable/satellite TVs during summer 2004. The series was filmed in Shanghai
and Taiwan
.
)
* Chen Shijun (played by Patrick Tam
)
* Gu Manlu (played by Jiang Qinqin
)
* Zhu Hongcai (played by Li Liqun)
* Xu Shu Hui (played by Chang Cheng)
* Zhang Yu Jin (played by Xing Min Shan)
, China, during the 1930s and 1940s. It centers around two sisters from a struggling family, Gu Manzhen (Ruby Lin
) and her older sister, Gu Manlu (Jiang Qinqin
). A college graduate with a friendly and strong character, Manzhen finds true love with one of her colleagues, Shen Shijun (Patrick Tam
). Meanwhile, Manlu, the oldest of four children, supports the entire family. At the age of seventeen, Manlu sacrificed her pride and reputation to become a nightclub hostess. The job helps support Manlu's family, but others find her work disgraceful and look down on Manlu. Even her own grandmother does not like Manlu's job. Originally, before she takes up her work as a nightclub hostess, Manlu was to marry a respected doctor named Yu Jing.
At the nightclub where she works, Manlu meets a man named Zhu Hongcai, who seems to be a nice man. While his financial situation is not stable, he is kind to Manlu and helps her through her problems. Initially, Manlu likes Hongcai, but is not completely interested in him. However, after Hongcai is shot in an effort to help her, the two decide to marry.
The original television drama soundtrack was released on April 2004 in China. This soundtrack contains 18 tracks, produced by BMG Ltd (Taiwan
). All songs are sung by lead actress Ruby lin
. Tracks 1-5 are composed for this drama, other songs are from Ruby Lin's album's Best Selection.
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
author Eileen Chang
Eileen Chang
Eileen Chang was a Chinese writer. Her most famous works include Lust, Caution and Love in a Fallen City....
. The series star Ruby Lin
Ruby Lin
Ruby Lin is a Taiwanese actress and pop singer. Her English name is from her mother's love of the jewel.Lin made her acting debut in a TV commercial in Taiwan. When she received her first experience in front of the camera in 1995, for a minor role, she started to develop a passion for acting...
, Patrick Tam
Patrick Tam
Patrick Tam Kar Ming is a Hong Kong film director and film editor. He directed the 1987 film Final Victory, scripted by Wong Kar-wai.He edited Wong Kar-wai's Days of Being Wild, contributing the cameo appearance of Tony Leung Chiu-Wai in the last scene, and Ashes of Time, as well as Johnnie To's...
, Jiang Qinqin
Jiang Qinqin
Jiang Qinqin is a Chinese actress. She is sometimes credited as Shui Ling , a stage name given to her by Taiwanese writer Chiung Yao while she was involved in the production of the television series Tears in Heaven....
and Li Liqun. It had the most simultaneous broadcasts on China cable/satellite TVs during summer 2004. The series was filmed in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.
Cast
- Ruby LinRuby LinRuby Lin is a Taiwanese actress and pop singer. Her English name is from her mother's love of the jewel.Lin made her acting debut in a TV commercial in Taiwan. When she received her first experience in front of the camera in 1995, for a minor role, she started to develop a passion for acting...
as Gu Manzhen (顧曼楨) - Patrick TamPatrick TamPatrick Tam Kar Ming is a Hong Kong film director and film editor. He directed the 1987 film Final Victory, scripted by Wong Kar-wai.He edited Wong Kar-wai's Days of Being Wild, contributing the cameo appearance of Tony Leung Chiu-Wai in the last scene, and Ashes of Time, as well as Johnnie To's...
as Shen Shijun (沈世鈞) - Jiang QinqinJiang QinqinJiang Qinqin is a Chinese actress. She is sometimes credited as Shui Ling , a stage name given to her by Taiwanese writer Chiung Yao while she was involved in the production of the television series Tears in Heaven....
as Gu Manlu (顧曼璐) - Li Li-chun as Zhu Hongcai (祝鴻才)
- Hu Ke as Shi Cuizhi (石翠芝)
- Chang Chang as Xu Shuhui (許叔惠)
- Xing Minshan as Zhang Yujin (張豫瑾)
Main Cast
* Gu Manzhen (Played by Ruby LinRuby Lin
Ruby Lin is a Taiwanese actress and pop singer. Her English name is from her mother's love of the jewel.Lin made her acting debut in a TV commercial in Taiwan. When she received her first experience in front of the camera in 1995, for a minor role, she started to develop a passion for acting...
)
* Chen Shijun (played by Patrick Tam
Patrick Tam
Patrick Tam Kar Ming is a Hong Kong film director and film editor. He directed the 1987 film Final Victory, scripted by Wong Kar-wai.He edited Wong Kar-wai's Days of Being Wild, contributing the cameo appearance of Tony Leung Chiu-Wai in the last scene, and Ashes of Time, as well as Johnnie To's...
)
* Gu Manlu (played by Jiang Qinqin
Jiang Qinqin
Jiang Qinqin is a Chinese actress. She is sometimes credited as Shui Ling , a stage name given to her by Taiwanese writer Chiung Yao while she was involved in the production of the television series Tears in Heaven....
)
* Zhu Hongcai (played by Li Liqun)
Support Cast
* Shi Cuizhi (played by Hu Ke)* Xu Shu Hui (played by Chang Cheng)
* Zhang Yu Jin (played by Xing Min Shan)
Summary
Affair of Half a Lifetime is set in ShanghaiShanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, China, during the 1930s and 1940s. It centers around two sisters from a struggling family, Gu Manzhen (Ruby Lin
Ruby Lin
Ruby Lin is a Taiwanese actress and pop singer. Her English name is from her mother's love of the jewel.Lin made her acting debut in a TV commercial in Taiwan. When she received her first experience in front of the camera in 1995, for a minor role, she started to develop a passion for acting...
) and her older sister, Gu Manlu (Jiang Qinqin
Jiang Qinqin
Jiang Qinqin is a Chinese actress. She is sometimes credited as Shui Ling , a stage name given to her by Taiwanese writer Chiung Yao while she was involved in the production of the television series Tears in Heaven....
). A college graduate with a friendly and strong character, Manzhen finds true love with one of her colleagues, Shen Shijun (Patrick Tam
Patrick Tam
Patrick Tam Kar Ming is a Hong Kong film director and film editor. He directed the 1987 film Final Victory, scripted by Wong Kar-wai.He edited Wong Kar-wai's Days of Being Wild, contributing the cameo appearance of Tony Leung Chiu-Wai in the last scene, and Ashes of Time, as well as Johnnie To's...
). Meanwhile, Manlu, the oldest of four children, supports the entire family. At the age of seventeen, Manlu sacrificed her pride and reputation to become a nightclub hostess. The job helps support Manlu's family, but others find her work disgraceful and look down on Manlu. Even her own grandmother does not like Manlu's job. Originally, before she takes up her work as a nightclub hostess, Manlu was to marry a respected doctor named Yu Jing.
At the nightclub where she works, Manlu meets a man named Zhu Hongcai, who seems to be a nice man. While his financial situation is not stable, he is kind to Manlu and helps her through her problems. Initially, Manlu likes Hongcai, but is not completely interested in him. However, after Hongcai is shot in an effort to help her, the two decide to marry.
Soundtrack
- Album Title : 半生缘新歌+精选(Ban Sheng Yuan New + Best Selection)
The original television drama soundtrack was released on April 2004 in China. This soundtrack contains 18 tracks, produced by BMG Ltd (Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
). All songs are sung by lead actress Ruby lin
Ruby Lin
Ruby Lin is a Taiwanese actress and pop singer. Her English name is from her mother's love of the jewel.Lin made her acting debut in a TV commercial in Taiwan. When she received her first experience in front of the camera in 1995, for a minor role, she started to develop a passion for acting...
. Tracks 1-5 are composed for this drama, other songs are from Ruby Lin's album's Best Selection.
| # | | Track title | | Running time | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 半生缘 (Ban Sheng Yuan) Eighteen Springs |
3:44 | Sung by Ruby Lin Ruby Lin Ruby Lin is a Taiwanese actress and pop singer. Her English name is from her mother's love of the jewel.Lin made her acting debut in a TV commercial in Taiwan. When she received her first experience in front of the camera in 1995, for a minor role, she started to develop a passion for acting... (林心如) Opening song of the TV series |
| 2 | 擦肩而过 (Ca Shen Er Guo) Passed Each Other By |
3:51 | This was the ending theme song of the TV series |
| 3 | 過去 (Guo Qu) The Past |
4:10 | |
| 4 | 想這你 (Xiang Zhe Ni) Thinking of You |
3:29 | |
| 5 | 愛再靠近一點 (Ai Zai Kao Jin Yi Dian) Let Love Move Us Closer |
5:00 | Duet song by Ruby Lin Ruby Lin Ruby Lin is a Taiwanese actress and pop singer. Her English name is from her mother's love of the jewel.Lin made her acting debut in a TV commercial in Taiwan. When she received her first experience in front of the camera in 1995, for a minor role, she started to develop a passion for acting... & Kenneth Tong |
See also
- Eighteen Springs (film)Eighteen Springs (film)Eighteen Springs is a 1997 romance drama film directed by Ann Hui, starring Jacklyn Wu, Leon Lai, Anita Mui, Huang Lei and Ge You. It is a China-Hong Kong co-production based on the novel of the same name by Eileen Chang....
- a 1997 film based on the same novel, directed by Ann HuiAnn HuiAnn Hui On-Wah is a Hong Kong film director, film producer and occasional screenwriter, one of the most critically acclaimed amongst the Hong Kong New Wave.-Early life:...