Golden Dusk
| Golden Dusk | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Also known as | |
| Traditional | 金色黃昏 |
| Simplified | 金色黄昏 |
| Mandarin | Jīnsè Huánghūn |
| Created by |
|
| Written by | Du Shiyun |
| Directed by | Zhang Jinbiao |
| Starring |
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| Opening theme | "Bu Lao de Ai" (不老的爱) performed by Tan Jing |
| Composer(s) | Liu Kexin |
| Country of origin | China |
| Original language(s) | Mandarin |
| No. of episodes | 30 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Li Changjiang |
| Producer(s) |
|
| Cinematography | Cheng Yuanhai |
| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
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| Release | |
| Original network | CCTV-8 |
| Original release | May 7, 2008 |
Golden Dusk is a 2008 Chinese romantic television drama series produced by China Central Television (and others), focusing on the relationships of 3 senior couples: a happy union at around age 60, a 2-decade-old romance in limbo due to selfish children, and a 35-year-old marriage falling apart after the revelation of a 4-decade-old secret from the Cultural Revolution.[1]
Filming began in April 2005 in Yunnan,[2] but the series was not broadcast until May 2008 on CCTV-8.
Plot
Ma Jianqun (Lei Ming) has just lost his wife of more than 3 decades. Grief-stricken and not independent to begin with, he falls asleep cooking a meal and almost kills himself, prompting his son Ma Yiguang (Wang Jingsong) and daughter-in-law Fang Tong (Zhang Han) to set him up for dates. Although hostile to the idea in the beginning, Ma Jianqun quickly falls for and marries kindhearted widow Gao Yunxiang (Wu Jing). Gao Yunxiang also has an ulterior motive for marrying: she wants to give up her apartment for her jobless son Han Junjie (Cui Zhong) and his pregnant girlfriend Shi Liu (Jiang Wenxia). This economic reason, not clearly communicated to Ma Jianqun, creates a serious marriage crisis, made more problematic by the mutual dislike between the arrogant Fang Tong and the proud Han Junjie. In the end, Ma Jianqun realizes Gao's love for him is genuine and they come to enjoy a happy marriage.
Fang Tong's father Fang Runqiu (Li Zhiyu) has just retired after a long and devoted career in medicine. He has been married to Tang Yu (Wu Mian) for 35 years, but he feels they have nothing in common. Spending more time with her only strengthens this impression. One day, he meets his former love Zhuang Xueman (Wang Shuping), whom he hasn't seen for almost 40 years ever since Zhuang was falsely accused of a "counter-revolutionary" and sent away for "reformed labor" during the Cultural Revolution. He also realizes that Zhuang's daughter is also his own daughter. Feeling exceedingly guilty, he wishes to spend his remaining days with them. He files for divorce from Tang. Tang, however, makes a scene and threatens to fight with him to the bitter end. She even attempts suicide, but Fang Runqiu still isn't giving in. Tang takes a trip to Stone Forest, after which she gains a new understanding of life: after all, she is not living her life for Fang Runqiu. She calmly agrees to the divorce. Taken aback by her change of heart, Fang Runqiu realizes he is the one not ready to leave her. Zhuang leaves the city, and Fang Runqiu tries to reconcile with Tang.
Widower Guo Changsheng (Zhong Changde) and his widowed neighbor Zhang Cuilian (Fang Guoying) have been in love for over 2 decades. But their romance is vehemently opposed by Guo Changsheng's son Guo Xiaobing (Cui Jun) and his extremely selfish wife Shen Huaying (Li Ge), who still live with Guo Changsheng because they barely have an income to make ends meet. Shen fears that if married Zhang would take over Guo Changsheng's inheritance, so she cusses Zhang out every time the opportunity arises. Her greed knows no bounds, she even sells Guo Changsheng's house. The elderly Guo, a wimpish man, still wants to let the issue pass, but the neighbors in the senior community have finally had enough. Led by Ma Jianqun, they organize a petition to bring about a lawsuit against Guo Xiaobing and Shen.
Cast and characters
- Lei Ming as Ma Jianqun, a 63-year-old retired government official who is stubborn and annoyingly rhetorical at times, but also extremely generous, kind, and almost quixotically chivalric. Towards the end he develops symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, but he faces the condition calmly.
- Wu Jing as Gao Yunxiang, a 58-year-old retired schoolteacher. The leader of the square-dancing nannies, Gao is friendly and generous.
- Cui Zhong as Han Junjie, Gao Yunxiang's son.
- Jiang Wenxia as Shi Liu, Han Junjie's girlfriend.
- Wang Jingsong as Ma Yiguang, Ma Jianqun's filial son.
- Fang Tong as Ma Yiguang's wife. She makes more than Ma Yiguang and eventually divorces him.
- Li Zhiyu as Fang Runqiu, Fang Tong's 64-year-old father. He has devoted his entire life to his job, and barely has a relationship with his wife Tang Yu despite 35 years of marriage.
- Wu Mian as Tang Yu, Fang Runqiu's 59-year-old wife. Ignored by Fang their entire marriage, she works tirelessly on housework, which does nothing to help her. Tang is somewhat extreme in her thoughts on life.
- Zhong Changde as Guo Changsheng, a 65-year-old retired chauffeur. A kind but weak-willed man, he tolerates his son and daughter-in-law to an extreme.
- Cui Jun as Guo Xiaobing, Guo Changsheng's son.
- Li Ge as Shen Huaying, Guo Xiaobing's selfish wife.
- Fang Guoying as Zhang Cuilian, a 63-year-old shopowner and Guo Changsheng's love. A weak woman even more magnanimous than Guo Changsheng, she withstands all kinds of bullying from Shen Huaying without any hatred in her heart.