When Love Becomes an Illusion: Review of Chinese Drama 'Hua Xu Yin: City of Desperate Love' (Forbidden Love in a Vortex of Tragedy)

If you are looking for a Chinese drama that blends fantasy, painful love, and a narrative style different from the norm, Hua Xu Yin: City of Desperate Love is an answer you should not miss. This 2015 drama, based on the famous novel by Tang Qi Gong Zi, takes us back to an ancient world full of charm and tragedy, through the story of a young woman who uses a magical zither to record others' memories, while embarking on a journey to find her own true love.

Plot Summary (No Spoilers)

Hua Xu Yin: City of Desperate Love tells the story of Ye Fu (played by Kevin Cheng), a prince of the Chen kingdom, and Jun Huang Fei (played by Lin Yuan), a young woman with the special ability to play a zither called 'Hua Xu Qin,' which can create an illusion of memories for people to relive their past. After being betrayed and killed, she is resurrected in a new body with no memory and meets Ye Fu, who unknowingly becomes her husband. The drama unfolds through episodic storytelling, each episode taking us into the love stories of various couples facing obstacles and loss. Meanwhile, Jun Huang Fei and Ye Fu must unravel the mysteries related to their own past.

The drama is divided into four sub-stories: The Floating Life, Thirteen Months, The Vicious Circle, and The Song of Killing. Each focuses on the love of other characters encountered by Jun Huang Fei and Ye Fu, giving the drama emotional and narrative variety.

Acting and Characters

The lead actors deliver outstanding performances. Kevin Cheng as Ye Fu portrays a cold exterior with a warm interior perfectly, while Lin Yuan as Jun Huang Fei shows both strength and vulnerability. The chemistry between them, though not flashy, is deep and believable.

The supporting cast is equally impressive. Yuan Hong as Rong Heng, a close friend secretly in love with Jun Huang Fei, powerfully conveys pain and sacrifice. Jiang Xin as Liu Su, a woman with a tragic fate, leaves a strong impression with her nuanced acting. Additionally, Yang Rui and Bao Jianfeng help bring the world of the drama to life.

Direction, Visuals, and Music

Directors Tan Li Juan and Chen Wei Xiang skillfully create an atmosphere that is both beautiful and tragic. The visuals are rich in color and delicate composition, especially the scenes in the Hua Xu illusion, which are rendered exquisitely, like a living ancient Chinese painting.

The soundtrack is another highlight that effectively enhances the emotions. In particular, the theme song 'Hua Xu Yin' sung by Hu Ge (lead actor from the popular drama 'Nirvana in Fire') helps viewers easily immerse in the story. Although the drama aired in 2015, the quality of the visuals and music remains timeless and impressive.

Editorial Analysis

What sets Hua Xu Yin: City of Desperate Love apart from other fantasy romance Chinese dramas is its 'story within a story' narrative structure, allowing viewers to explore different aspects of love—whether sacrificial love, painful love, or love that ends tragically. The fact that the main characters, Jun Huang Fei and Ye Fu, are observers of other couples' stories also makes us question their own love.

However, the drama has weaknesses in pacing, with some parts being quite slow, and the episodic format may make some feel a lack of continuity. But for those who appreciate emotional and poetic storytelling, this drama is a hidden gem amidst the wave of modern Chinese dramas.

Verdict

For fans of fantasy romance Chinese dramas looking for something beyond superficial fun, 'Hua Xu Yin: City of Desperate Love' is a worthwhile watch. Despite flaws in pacing and effects, its deep content and intense performances will make you emotionally invested in the love and pain of every character.