How Dying to Survive became a China box-office phenomenon

江蘇白蒲高級中學 宗越琴

2018年暑假，一部由寧浩和徐崢共同監制，文牧野執導，徐崢主演的電影《我不是藥神》引發了一波觀影熱潮。電影講述的是一個普通人因為賣藥而變成英雄的故事。那么，這部電影到底為什么能還未正式上映就已刷屏，口碑票房俱佳，成為中國票房的一種現象呢？

China's latest blockbuster（大片）,Dying to Survive,pulled offa rare achievement of box-office magic this week：Itmanaged toearn$50 million before it even opened.

An exciting social drama with black comedy,Dying to Survive premiered(首映)to receive praisingreviewsat the Shanghai International Film Festival in late June.It then made apromotionaltour,holding limited screenings in select cities across the country.With each stop,enthusiasm increased,and the film soon became China's most widely discussed,critically praised movie in years,scoring a 9.7/10 rating on ticketing service Maoyan.

So why people liked it so much?

Produced by Chinese hit maker Ning Hao,Dying to Survive tells the story of a health supplements supplier,played by comedian Xu Zheng,who smuggles(走私)unapproveddrugsfromIndiatosellto leukemia(白血病)patients who can't afford the expensive official medicine offered by Chinese hospitals.Initiallyinspiredby small financial interest,the smuggler's motivesevolveas he realizes how desperately his customers need help.

The film is based on the real-life story of Lu Yong,a trader who was diagnosed with leukemia and spent over$80,000on official medicine before turning to smuggling a vastlycheaper alternative from India.He went on to save more than 1,000 lives by bringing the drug into China for other patients,before he was arrested and charged in 2014 with selling fake drugs.

Hundreds of leukemia survivors Lu had helped then request his release,and he was finally freed withoutpunishmentby a judge who praised Lu for the way he had never personally profited from the drug sales.A critic said,“If someonecommits a crimein order to profit from it,they are simply a criminal.But if someone has to commit a crime in order to survive,society must take a look at itself and ask who the guilty ones really are.”

Critics have praised Dying to Survive,directed by 33-year-old director Wen Muye,as a creativebreakthroughfor the Chinese film industry—a rare work ofarousing social awarenessfrom a film scene typicallyblockedby censorship(審查制度)fromaddressingtopics related to China's real-life problems.Several preview screenings have ended in applause.

Reading Check

1.Why did people like the film so much？

A.It is produced by Ning Hao,a Chinese hit maker.

B.It is adapted from a real-life story of Lu Yong.

C.It is moving and receives great praise from critics.

D.It arouses social awareness about real life problems.

2.Where is the passage probably from?

A.A fashion magazine.

B.A film review.

C.A research report.

D.An advertising booklet.

Language Study

Ⅰ.Words in the context

Ⅱ.Difficult sentences

1.Produced by Chinese hit maker Ning Hao,Dying to Survive tells the story of a health supplements supplier,played by comedian Xu Zheng,who smuggles unapproved drugs from India to sell to leukemia patients who can't afford the expensive official medicine offered by Chinese hospitals.

翻譯：______________________________

【點石成金】本句的主句部分是Dying to Survive tells the story of a health supplements supplier。produced by Chinese hit maker Ning Hao是過去分詞作定語，修飾Dying to Survive。played by comedian Xu Zheng是過去分詞作定語，修飾a health supplements supplier。who引導定語從句，修飾先行詞Xu Zheng。在定語從句中還有一個who引導的定語從句，修飾先行詞leukemia patients。

2.The film is based on the real-life story of Lu Yong,a trader who was diagnosed with leukemia and spent over$80,000 on official medicine before turning to smuggling a vastly cheaper alternative from India.

翻譯：_____________________________

【點石成金】本句中，a trader是同位語，同位語部分含有一個由who引導的定語從句，從句中and連接兩個并列的謂語was diagnosed和spent。

Using Language

Ⅰ.Important vocabulary in the text Words

1.promotional adj.廣告宣傳的；推銷的

2.supplement n.增補（物）；補充（物）；添加物

3.unapproved adj.未經同意的；未獲批準的

4.inspire v.激勵，鼓舞；賦予靈感；

5.evolve v.（使）逐步發展，演變；形成；進化

6.alternative n.可供選擇的事物

7.punishment n.懲罰；處罰；刑罰

7.breakthrough n.重大進展；突破

9.block v.阻礙；妨礙

Phrases

1.pull off完成（困難的事情）

2.manage to do sth設法做成某事

3.be diagnosed with被診斷患有……

4.commit a crime犯罪

5.arouse social awareness喚起社會意識

Ⅱ.Complete the following sentences in correct forms with the above vocabulary.

1.He planned to __________a conference on human rights next week.

2_______.__by the sunny weather,I decided to explore the woods.

3.Facing difficulty,he carefully assessed what practical _________were open to him.

4.We somehow __________get to the airport in time.

5.Participating in public welfare activities will _________a young person's _________.