Li Chengru, once a widely praised outspoken industry voice, now faces a 3.2 score for his work, trapped by past acclaim and unwilling to accept negative market feedback.
In *The Return of the Great Director*, the moment the rating popped up on the screen after the film’s release, Li Chengru’s screen clearly displayed a score of 3.2.He immediately slammed his fist on the table and stood up, unable to hide his anger at the screen filled with negative reviews. He then turned and held up the few positive comments from others right in front of the camera to respond.
Earlier, Li Chengru served as a guest judge on a performance-based variety show. His brutally honest comment—”like sitting on pins and needles”—when critiquing young actors earned him widespread acclaim across the internet, with many viewers hailing him as one of the few people in the industry who dares to speak the truth.In his early years in the industry, he navigated the ups and downs of venturing into business before switching to the film and television industry. Without formal training, he gained his acting experience entirely through trial and error on set,This straightforward personality has given his commentary style on variety shows a unique edge; some hail him as the “conscience of the industry,”while others privately criticize him for being too sharp-tongued and overly patronizing. Fellow actress Zhang Kaili has also publicly mentioned his lack of formal training, and even when his own son came to him seeking help, he consistently refused to lend a hand.
Later, Li Chengru wrote, directed, and starred in the film *The Return of the Great Director*. After the film was released, audience feedback poured into the rating section, with the slow pacing and preachy dialogue standing out as major issues; however, he never directly addressed these criticisms.
From a once-widely acclaimed paragon of candor to a now-controversial public figure, Li Chengru has clung to the professional reputation he built in his early years; he has been unwilling to accept the negative criticism from the market, yet has consistently failed to produce any new work worthy of note.
As people reach middle age, many find themselves in a similar situation: having made a name for themselves in their youth through sheer drive and determination, they find themselves constrained by past honors in the latter half of their lives, unable to listen to differing opinions and lacking the energy to strive for new achievements—a dilemma that ordinary people often face.
What, exactly, is needed to ensure that the reputation the older generation has built up over half a lifetime remains firmly established in the long run?
