The young Du Fu, future "Sage of Poetry", admires Li Bai and Gao Shi. In the film he appears young, cheerful and full of enthusiasm.
Personality
Cheerful, curious and admiring, he contrasts with the gravity usually associated with the poet.
Powers & abilities
Like his elders, he writes poems; later, his verses on the miseries of war will make him one of China's greatest poets.
History
He travels with Li Bai and Gao Shi and witnesses their poetic revels. The film hints at the ordeals the An Lushan Rebellion will put him through.
Relationships
Li Bai is his idol. Gao Shi is a friend.
Key moments
- His first meetings with Li Bai and Gao Shi.
- The evening by the water when Li Bai recites Qiang Jin Jiu.
- Echoes of his war poems.
In the adaptations
A historical figure (712-770), he is shown here before his fame, which makes him lighter than in the classic image.
Did you know?
- Li Bai and Du Fu are China's two most famous poets.
- He was eleven years younger than Li Bai.
Our take
Du Fu brings welcome freshness to the film, a reminder that great poets were once young.
— Spidermas, for Donghua Fan