''If I Were for Real'' () is a 1981 Taiwanese drama film directed by Wang Toon. It is an adaptation of the 1979 play of the same name by

Sha Yexin Sha Yexin (; 13 July 1939 in Nanjing – 26 July 2018) was a Chinese playwright and short story writer. Sha finished his first one-act play, ''Yi fen qian'' 《一分钱》 (''One Cent''), in 1965. Later works include his plays ''Haohao xuexi'' ...

, Li Shoucheng and Yao Mingde, set in mainland China. The film made some changes to the story to turn "the satirical comedy into political propaganda which condemns Chinese communism". The film was banned not only in

mainland China "Mainland China" is a geopolitical term defined as the territory governed by the People's Republic of China (including islands like Hainan or Chongming), excluding dependent territories of the PRC, and other territories within Greater China. ...

(like the play), but also in

British Hong Kong Hong Kong was a colony and later a dependent territory of the British Empire from 1841 to 1997, apart from a period of occupation under the Japanese Empire from 1941 to 1945 during the Pacific War. The colonial period began with the Briti ...

until 1989.

Cast

Alan Tam Alan Tam Wing-lun MH (; born 23 August 1950) is a Hong Kong singer and actor. He played a major role in developing the Cantopop scene in the 1980s as he was known for singing romantic ballads with modern arrangements. From 1983 to 1987, Alan Tam ...

as Li Xiaozhang *Nancy Hu as Zhou Minghua *Hsiang Lin as Qiao Hong, an actress in the theatrical troupe * Lin Tzay-peir as Yao Qing, son of Zhou Minghua's factory boss *

Chang Feng Chang Feng (6 April 1923 – 6 February 2022) was a Chinese actor based in Taiwan. He died on 6 February 2022, at the age of 98.Ko Hsiang-ting Ko Hsiang-ting (; 8 August 1916 – 16 May 2010) was a Taiwanese actor. Born in Suzhou, China on 8 August 1916, Ko became a member of the National Revolutionary Army corp of entertainers. He moved to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War, and started ...

as Farm Director Zheng *

Tsui Fu-sheng Tsui Fu-sheng (; 8 July 1931 – 26 December 2013) was a Taiwanese actor. He began acting after completed military service in the Republic of China Air Force. Fu was awarded the Golden Horse for Best Supporting Actor in 1966. His role in ''The R ...

as Wang Yun, deputy mayor of Shanghai *Ku Chun as Li Da

Differences from the play

As a propaganda film that condemns communism, the film "in a total disregard of the inherent ambiguities in the play" made a number of "changes which drastically alter the meaning", according to Gilbert C. F. Fong. *Characters associated with the Chinese government are demonized by removing positive traits. Farm Director Zheng, who displays some conscience in the play, is completely pathetic in the film. The virtuous Venerable Comrade Zhang in the play becomes "cold, aloof, and keen on punishment instead of persuasion" Li Da and is given a much smaller role. *The film introduces a crude, licentious, and corrupt character Wang Yun, (clearly fictitious) deputy mayor of Shanghai who keeps an innocent actress as his mistress, thus strengthening the negative impression associated with the ruling elite. *In the film, Zhou Minghua's pregnancy is revealed much earlier than in the play. As a result, the opportunistic prankster Li Xiaozhang is seen in a much more positive light, as a hero fighting for the survival of his future family. *The play ends with Li Xiaozhang on trial and Zhou Minghua in the hospital. In the film, Zhou Minghua drowns herself (and her unborn baby), while Li Xiaozhang cuts his wrist and inscribes with his blood the words "If I Were for Real" on the cell wall before his death. (In real life, the imposter Zhang Quanlong (张泉龙) on whom Li Xiaozhang is based, was released after 3 years in prison.)

Theme song

Teresa Teng Teng Li-Chun (; 29 January 1953 – 8 May 1995), commonly known as Teresa Teng, was a Taiwanese singer, actress, musician and philanthropist. Referred to by some as " Asia's eternal queen of pop," Teng became a cultural icon for her contributio ...

sang the theme song, which was included in her 1981 album of the same name. (In the film, Farm Director Zheng secretly listens to Teresa Teng's "

When Will You Return? "When Will You Return?" () is a Chinese song first sung by Zhou Xuan in 1937, but also well known as a song by Teresa Teng. It has also been variously translated as "When Will the Gentleman Come Back Again?" or "When Will You Come Back Again?" ...

" and hides a picture of her on the back of a Chairman Mao portrait.)

Awards and nominations

;1981 18th Golden Horse Awards *Won—

Best Film This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...

*Won— Best Adapted Screenplay (

Chang Yung-hsiang Chang Yung-hsiang (26 October 1929 – 8 October 2021) was a Taiwanese screenwriter and director originally from Yantai, China, generally considered one of the most prolific and successful screenwriters in Taiwan. Chang adapted a number of Chi ...

) *Won— Best Actor (

) *Nominated— Best Cinematography (Lin Hung-chung) *Nominated—Best Art Direction (Wang Toon) The film was also selected as the Taiwanese entry for the

Best Foreign Language Film This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...

at the

54th Academy Awards The 54th Academy Awards ceremony, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored films released in 1981 and took place on March 29, 1982, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles beginning at 6:00 p.m ...

, but was not accepted as a nominee.Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

References

External links