"Flowers" ended, and the aftertaste was endless. This TV series depicts in detail the ups and downs of the early 90s of the last century, the brilliant era, when everyone was competing for the upper reaches and the children of the tide in Shanghai. The TV series has ended, but it is still a topic that people talk about on online platforms. His eyes are like torches, and he can always see enough changes in the current situation...... Among the characters who appeared in "Flowers", the uncle played by You Benchang had a natural temperament as soon as he appeared, allowing the audience to experience how the Shanghai business people strategized in that galloping era. Even if he doesn't say a word, his uncle's eyes can convey a sense of story.

Such an uncle, it is difficult to think for a while, he is the Jigong actor You Benchang who sang "The shoes are broken, the hat is broken, and the robe on the body is broken" decades ago. In "Flowers", You Benchang's performance was praised by the audience as the "Dinghai Divine Needle" of the whole play. Born in 1933 and now 91 years old, he once humorously joked: "I have also joined the ranks of the post-90s!"

87-year-old starred as his uncle

In and out of the play, Hu Ge is a "life mentor"

The uncle in "Flowers" is always calm and relaxed, calm and unhurried. As the guide of Mr. Bao (played by Hu Ge) on the road to success, he taught Mr. Bao that there should be panaches, gimmicks, and signs in business, and contributed many classic lines: "A man should have three wallets, the first is how much money you actually have, the second is your credit, that is, how much money you can mobilize in people's wallets, and the third is how much money people think you have." ”

When he decided to star in "Flowers", You Benchang was 87 years old, but he still chose to meet the challenge and add another stroke to his career as an actor. Recalling the moment when he chose to cooperate with director Wong Kar-wai at that time, You Benchang said: "I like to meet challenges, I heard that he (Wong Kar-wai) has been grinding a drama for ten years, so I just caught up, so I will do it!"

Let Mr. Bao lose 3000,1952 yuan for the first time in stock speculation, and warned him that "if you want to make a profit, you must first learn to lose"; took Mr. Bao to customize a suit and told him to "do business, pay attention to style, gimmicks, and signs"...... In the first episode of "Flowers", Uncle's training and allocation made Bao the boss. Outside the play, You Benchang entered the Performance Department of the Shanghai Theater Academy in <> to study, and Hu Ge is his serious "little junior brother". The uncle in the play is Mr. Bao's master, and with his support and escort, Ah Bao can become Mr. Bao, and You Benchang outside the play is called "life mentor" by Hu Ge.

Hu Ge once revealed that on the set, You Benchang had to work nearly ten hours a day, which was a great challenge for a young actor like Hu Ge, not to mention You Benchang, who was nearly ninety years old at the time. But no matter how late it is, as soon as he turns it on, he is immediately in good spirits and never feels tired. In order to present better works, You Benchang also actively played with Hu Ge without his own lens, which is very admirable.

There was a scene of eating that impressed Hu Ge deeply, when You Benchang broke the meat pieces and then ate them, Hu Ge thought that he had bad teeth, but he didn't expect You Benchang to answer indifferently: "I play the Shanghai uncle, I can't eat meat, if I eat meat, I will become Jigong again." ”

In the opening scene of "Flowers", Uncle saw Ah Bao after wearing a suit, remembered his young self, and quietly wet his eyes, this scene made the audience impressed by You Benchang's "eye skills". In fact, after filming this clip, You Benchang was also unable to act for a long time. After the director shouted the card, he still couldn't stop crying, feeling that he was "too slow to act".

52-year-old starred in "Jigong"

"There are no small roles, only small actors"

In "Flowers", my uncle entered the Shanghai Stock Exchange at the age of 16 and had his own brokerage license at the age of 18. But in reality, You Benchang was not so lucky. He ran for 30 years, and it was not until he was 52 years old that he had the opportunity to play the role of "Jigong".

In 1985, a song "Shoes are broken, hats are broken, and the robes on the body are broken ......" resounded all over the country, and it also made Jigong's actor You Benchang a household name and became the memory of a generation of audiences. The image of Jigong, who is wearing a torn monk's robe and cranked a broken pu fan, looks crazy, but is actually full of unique skills, makes it difficult for later Jigong actors to match.

After Jigong's great success, You Benchang did not stop and worked the road of acting. He believes that "there are no small roles, only small actors", and always takes every role seriously and carefully figures out every detail. It is precisely this kind of accumulation that allows You Benchang to interpret the image of Jigong that is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and shape the image of today's uncle, "You must love art and give your life for it, but you must not love yourself in art." He said.

In March 2023, You Benchang attended the TV drama quality ceremony and won the title of "Quality Master". When he came to the stage to accept the award, when asked what he wanted to say to the young actors in the audience, You Benchang said: "I have a heartfelt word, which is a purpose that I have practiced for decades, to guide people's hearts with literature and art. ”

Interestingly, after the broadcast of "Flowers", You Benchang was also chasing the drama at the same time. When asked what it's like to see himself through the screen now, he laughs and says he's "scrutinizing and appreciating." In the face of the audience's love, You Benchang also expressed his gratitude to everyone for remembering him, remembering him, and liking him, "As long as the audience needs, I will live until I am old, learn from him, and work until I am old." As an actor, this is my greatest joy and greatest happiness!"

West China Metropolis Daily-Cover News Reporter Li Yuxin