Synopsis
"The Day We Lit Up the Sky" is a 2020 youth campus drama directed by Zhang Yibai, starring Peng Yuchang, Zhang Jingyi, Liang Jingkang, and Zhang Youhao. Set against the backdrop of Chongqing, it tells the story of a group of high school teenagers experiencing growth, friendship, and first love during the turn of the millennium. With a Douban rating of 7.9, the series has moved audiences with its sincere emotions and the vibrant, authentic atmosphere of Chongqing.
Overview
"The Day I Became a God" is a Chinese youth campus drama that premiered in September 2020. It was directed by Zhang Yibai, Han Yan, and Li Bingqiang, with the original author Li Zelin serving as the screenwriter. The series stars a new generation of actors including Peng Yuchang, Zhang Jingyi, Liang Jingkang, Zhou Yiran, Zhang Youhao, Guo Cheng, and Zhou You. The full series consists of 16 episodes and holds a Douban rating of 7.9. Adapted from Li Zelin's novel, the drama is set in Chongqing during the turn of the millennium. It tells the story of a group of high school teenagers with vastly different personalities experiencing laughter and tears, friendship and love during their coming-of-age journey.
The most distinctive feature of this drama is its strong Chongqing regional flavor and authentic, palpable youthfulness. Director Zhang Yibai, a native of Chongqing himself, seamlessly integrates the city's steep slopes and steps, hotpot, noodles, and the Yangtze River Cableway into the narrative, making the city itself a vibrant character in the story. The "Feng" in "Feng Quan" (风犬) is a homophone for "crazy" (疯), referring to the wild and silly youthful state of these teenagers.
Plot
At the turn of the millennium, the story unfolds at a high school located in downtown Chongqing. The fresh and simple atmosphere of the campus converges with the towering skyscrapers surrounding it, creating two starkly different youthful energies.
Tu Jun (played by Peng Yuchang), nicknamed "Old Dog," grew up with divorced parents. He is a troublemaker with bottom-of-the-class grades who seems to laugh and joke all day long. While appearing not to care about anything, he is actually sensitive and kind-hearted. Old Dog's best friend, Ma Tian (played by Liang Jingkang), is a top student, excelling academically but lost due to family变故. Da Lijiao (played by Zhou Yiran) is Old Dog's childhood friend—fiery, straightforward, and unafraid to love or hate.
The arrival of transfer student Li Anran (played by Zhang Jingyi) disrupts the existing balance. Coming to Chongqing from a big city, she is beautiful and gentle but harbors undisclosed worries. Old Dog falls for her at first sight, while Anran is drawn to the story of another boy, Liu Wenqin. Liu Wenqin (played by Zhou You) was once a prominent figure at school but had to drop out to work due to his impoverished family background. His story is filled with the weight of reality and the regrets of youth.
Over the course of sixteen episodes, these teenagers face the pressures of the college entrance exam, family changes, the throes of first love, and the sadness of parting. The series features hilarious daily campus life as well as tear-jerking moments of farewell.
Cast
| Actor | Character | Introduction |
|---|---|---|
| Peng Yuchang | Tu Jun / Old Dog | Troublemaker with bottom grades, kind-hearted and passionate |
| Zhang Jingyi | Li Anran | Transfer student, beautiful and gentle |
| Liang Jingkang | Ma Tian | Top student, Old Dog's brother-like friend |
| Zhou Yiran | Da Lijiao | Old Dog's childhood friend, fiery and straightforward |
| Zhang Youhao | Ding Rongliang | One of the teenagers, simple and honest character |
| Zhou You | Liu Wenqin | Former prominent figure, realistic and world-weary |
Cultural Impact
"The Day I Became a God" sparked widespread resonance about youth after its broadcast. Unlike the often detached feel of typical youth dramas, it presents a down-to-earth narrative of adolescence through the highly authentic daily life of Chongqing and genuine character emotions. The Chongqing dialect, hotpot, noodles, and mountain city trails featured in the drama became popular topics among viewers.
Peng Yuchang's portrayal of Old Dog is the most outstanding role in the series. He masterfully brings to life this seemingly carefree yet soft-hearted and kind boy, with his crying scenes being particularly moving. Zhang Jingyi successfully debuted with the role of Li Anran, winning audience affection with her fresh and natural performance.
The drama's soundtrack also received widespread acclaim. Several original songs from the series, such as "The Day I Became a God" and "Youth," perfectly match the emotional tone of the plot and have become songs on repeat for many young people.
References
- Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/30413128/
- Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/风犬少年的天空/23577549
- Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/风犬少年的天空
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