Spy drama brings unsung heroes to life

When director Qi Dao was conducting research for his espionage series The Silent Storm, he was surprised to discover that the recruitment process of the Ministry of State Security was quite different from what he imagined.

For those unsung heroes fighting on a secret battlefield to defend the country's safety, they are required to have ordinary appearances to avoid being noticed by the public.

"I previously thought they recruited talents who had good combat skills. It was interesting to hear that they have rigorous appearance requirements, with consideration for the facial features, like the proportions of the eyes, nose and mouth, to ensure a plain and simple look, aiming to be the least impressive in a crowd," Qi tells China Daily during a recent interview.

With extensive research involving insider interviews and collecting reports on China's efforts to crack down on spying, Qi has brought to life the nerve-wracking espionage world of the eponymous novel written by Lai Ji, a prolific writer and teacher at Southwest University of Political Science and Law in Chongqing.

Qi recalls that he stumbled upon Lai and was recommended to read the novel in April 2022. After becoming engrossed in plot twists, the director, who is also a die-hard fan of spy tales, decided to adapt the novel into a drama, spending two and a half years to produce it.

The 16-episode series has been broadcast on China Central Television's CCTV-8 and streamed on Tencent Video since Nov 7, garnering over 42 million views on related topics on the popular social media platform Sina Weibo.

Set in the fictional city of Binhai in 2019, the drama begins with a national security police investigation of a spy case. An engineer is involved in stealing confidential aerospace data under the orders of a foreign spy agency.

As the investigation unfolds, it is revealed that a former national security police officer, who left the force in 2000 after accidentally causing a suspect's death, is connected to the case. This revelation sets the stage for a poignant journey that follows how the dedicated police officer spends 19 years, primarily working undercover in several gang rings, in his quest to clear his name and chase the top agent of the agency.

Liao Fan, the first Chinese mainland actor to win a Silver Bear for Best Actor at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival, takes the lead to portray police officer Wu Yu, a solitary hero unwavering in his convictions.

Over his nearly two-decade pursuit of justice, the protagonist endures unbearable pain that most could not withstand — intentionally serving a year in prison to approach a gang leader, witnessing a young woman he treasures like a sister being fatally stabbed by his foe, and narrowly escaping death at the hands of multiple thugs. Despite aging into a weary middle age, his unwavering determination remains fixed on apprehending the culprit.

"Liao truly deserves the Berlin award. He spent a huge amount of time preparing for the role, resulting in a flawless performance in every aspect," reviews the director.

As a longtime friend of Liao, Qi recalls cooperating with Liao in the 2019 film Wild Goose Lake, a nominee for the Palme d'Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival in France. The experience left a lasting impression on Qi, who plays a supporting role in the movie, as he remembers Liao for his determined face and rugged demeanor.

One intriguing plotline recounts how Liao's character is mistakenly identified as the spy by the police due to their comparable height, physique and facial features. The confusion is caused because the spy cleverly disguises himself with a bucket hat to conceal his face. Moreover, he fabricates a cigarette butt with the officer's DNA and strategically places it at the crime scene, deepening the mystery.

"Finding an actor who resembled Liao was quite a challenge. One day, while I was reading the script, a crew member snapped a photo of my profile and held it up, suggesting that I could be the perfect fit," reminisces Qi about how he unexpectedly became the actor to portray the spy.

Reflecting on the filming process, which lasted from October to December last year in Southwest China's Sichuan province, Qi also mentions his greatest challenge — the scarcity of time due to the demanding schedule and constrained budget.

"Over two months, I slept an average of three hours each day. When the schedule included scenes for my role, I didn't even remove my makeup to catch a bit more sleep, around 40 minutes, overnight," recalls Qi.

In the final scene, the police officer ultimately finds his archenemy — the spy — 19 years later. The climax takes place on a cruise ship, amid a bustling tourist crowd, where the gazes of the two men transcend the vicissitudes of time, entangled in indescribable complex emotions.

This scene is somewhat regretful to the director because he initially hoped to film it on a two-story ferry for more action scenes but had to condense three days' worth of work into a single day.

Despite the hardships and difficulties, Qi says he cherishes the opportunity to produce The Silent Storm, which he believes depicts a rarely explored theme paying tribute to the heroes of the Ministry of State Security.

"In one of my early interviews, I asked the wife of a national security officer if she worried about her husband's safety during missions. Her response struck me deeply as she answered, 'I don't even know when he's out on a task'. That really got to me. It's because of countless unsung heroes like Wu, the protagonist, risking their lives and selflessly serving on the battlefield without gunfire, that our country stays safe today," says the director.