Mountains and Seas Affection

Synopsis

"Minning Town" is a 2021 poverty alleviation-themed drama with a Douban rating of 9.2, directed by Kong Sheng and Sun Molong, starring Huang Xuan, Reyizha, Zhang Jiayi, and Yan Ni. It tells the touching story of the relocation of immigrants from the impoverished Xihaigu region in Ningxia in the 1990s and Fujian's targeted assistance to Ningxia. Its Douban rating rose from 9.1 to 9.4, making it the most acclaimed series at the beginning of 2021, praised for its authenticity, simplicity, and emotional depth.

Overview

"Minning Town" is a poverty alleviation-themed TV series that premiered on January 12, 2021, on Zhejiang Satellite TV, Beijing Satellite TV, and other channels. It was directed by Kong Sheng and Sun Molong. Huang Xuan stars as Ma Defu, Reyizha as Shuihua, Zhang Jiayi as Ma Hanshui, Yan Ni as County Chief Yang, with powerful actors like Huang Jue, Yao Chen, Tao Hong, and Wang Kai also joining the cast. The entire series consists of 23 episodes and holds a Douban rating of 9.2 (based on approximately 360,000 reviews), making it the best-received domestic drama at the beginning of 2021.

The title "Minning Town" combines "Min" (referring to Fujian Province) and "Ning" (referring to Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region), symbolizing the profound friendship of Fujian's targeted assistance to Ningxia. The series is based on real historical events from the 1990s when the Xihaigu region in Ningxia was identified by the United Nations as one of the least suitable areas for human habitation. The Chinese government implemented a large-scale relocation project, moving impoverished residents from Xihaigu to the more favorable Yinchuan Plain. Simultaneously, Fujian Province provided targeted assistance to Ningxia, dispatching numerous cadres and technical personnel to support the region. This drama tells the epic story of this monumental poverty alleviation effort.

Plot

The story is set in Xihaigu, Ningxia, during the 1990s. This area suffers from drought nine out of ten years and is desolate and barren, identified by the United Nations World Food Programme as one of the least suitable regions for human survival. Young grassroots cadre Ma Defu (played by Huang Xuan) is assigned a daunting task: to mobilize villagers from Yongquan Village to relocate to the Gobi Desert in the Yuquanying Development Zone and build a new home there.

The relocation process is fraught with difficulties. The Gobi Desert has nothing—no water, no electricity, no houses. The villagers must not only face the harsh natural environment but also overcome their inner fears and distrust. Ma Defu goes door-to-door to persuade them, helping villagers solve practical problems—pulling electricity, providing water, building schools, and growing mushrooms—step by step transforming the Gobi Desert into a livable new home.

The story of Fujian's targeted assistance to Ningxia is equally moving. Professor Ling Yinong (played by Huang Jue), a cadre sent from Fujian to aid Ningxia, teaches villagers to grow Agaricus bisporus mushrooms, turning the Gobi Desert into a land of "golden mushrooms." Chen Jinshan (played by Guo Jingfei) from Fujian organizes young people from Ningxia to work in factories in Fujian, broadening their horizons. Minning Town grows from nothing into a small, prosperous town, becoming a successful model of poverty alleviation and relocation in China.

Cast

Reyizha's portrayal of Shuihua is the most touching character in the series. Shuihua is a rural woman with a tragic fate; she is forced into an arranged marriage by her father to a man she does not love, and her husband later loses his legs in an accident. However, she does not succumb to fate. She pulls her husband, daughter, and all their belongings on a cart, walking alone for seven days and nights to relocate to the new settlement. Reyizha's performance of this strong, kind, and enduring woman is heartbreaking, particularly the scene where she smiles with tears in her eyes, which becomes the most tear-jerking moment of the series. Reyizha won the Best Actress award at the Magnolia Awards for this role.

Production Features

The production of "Minning Town" is exceptionally meticulous. The entire series uses Northwestern dialect dialogue, and the actors specifically learned the Ningxia dialect before filming. The costumes, makeup, and props are extremely authentic—the actors' clothes are dirty and worn, and the wrinkles on their faces and rough skin texture make them look like real Northwestern farmers. Director Kong Sheng, known for his pursuit of a documentary style, achieves an extreme level of realism in this series.

The series extensively uses non-professional actors and local residents, making every group scene full of life. From scenes of elderly people squatting against walls basking in the sun and chatting to villagers sitting together eating noodles, every detail exudes the authentic feel of the soil.

Cultural Impact

After its broadcast, "Minning Town" sparked widespread social discussion. Many viewers stated that the series gave them their first real understanding of China's poverty alleviation work and the hardships faced by grassroots cadres. The true story of Minning Town's development from a Gobi Desert into a prosperous small town has become a microcosm of China's poverty alleviation campaign. Following "Like a Flowing River," this series is another excellent work that realistically reflects the changes in Chinese society.

References

1. Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/35033654/
2. Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/山海情
3. Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/山海情