Drama Digest:
This show is a well-researched drama shot in the form of a documentary. The city of Dunhuang and its development through the centuries into a commercial hub of Western China is the prime focus of this docu-drama. It also has the story of Ban Chao, a diplomat from the Eastern Han dynasty and his efforts in opening the ancient Silk Road. Ruan Magan, the director of the show, was highly inspired to make this show and he wanted to focus on the importance of this place. Another highlight of the show is the Chinese voice-over given by Chinese director Feng Xiaogang and the English part by Magan. The story line is integrated with interviews of experts.
The Feel-Good Part:
The importance of knowing the history is highly focussed in the show as it shows more about the lives of the people rather than the scriptures and other material things. It doesn’t follow the conventional way of historical drama, so the bringing in of fictional and non-fictional characters has made it belong to a unique form of docu-drama. One can see the awesome action parts and the historical feel. The visuals surely take us to those ancient times, and the beautiful narration blends the fundamental elements.
The Disappointing Factor:
The docu-drama has a lot of fictional characters, and they make the drama more like a film. The bringing in of new characters has made the historical event stray a bit, and also, the whole drama does not include all the crucial events of that time. Altogether it is viewed more like a fictional film and less like a documentary.
In-Depth Analysis:
The Northwestern Gansu province is where Dunhuang, one of the prominent places of the Ancient Silk Road, is located. This place consists of an oasis made up of Crescent Lake and Mingsha Shan (meaning “Singing-Sand Mountain,” a singing sand phenomenon and famous for the Mogao caves. The richness of Dunhuang’s history is beautifully portrayed in the show. The director’s likeness and the depth in his analysis make the show more valuable and exciting. His priority of producing the docu-drama to reach a wider audience, especially the present-day audience, is visible.
Star Power:
The star of the show is undoubtedly the director. His constant urge to bring out the essence with five leading characters is terrific. The performances by the lead actors are truly justifying.
Overall Opinion:
In the absolute sense, the show gives us an idea about Dunhuang and its significance briefly and enjoyably. This historically rich place still holds power, and so the newer generations will get to know the roots of its worthiness. The rating, in my opinion, would be 8.0 for this show.
