Quitting 2002

Jia Hongsheng, a talented graduate of the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, rose to prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s with notable performances in films like The Case of the Silver Snake and A Woman from North Shaanxi. However, a pivotal moment occurred during rehearsals for the stage production of Kiss of the Spider Woman in the fall of 1992, where he encountered marijuana for the first time. This led to a dangerous addiction, and he soon found himself dabbling in heroin as well. By 1995, after wrapping up his role in Weekend Lover, Jia made the drastic decision to retire from acting altogether, relying on support from his younger sister, Wang Tong.

An ardent admirer of The Beatles, Jia spent his time immersed in their music, to the point of envisioning himself as the son of the iconic John Lennon. Recognizing their son’s plight, Jia’s parents, seasoned theatre actors Jia Fengsen and Chai Xiuling, relocated to Beijing in late 1995 to assist him in overcoming his drug addiction. This move also brought Wang Tong back to their shared family apartment, allowing them to reconnect.

Initially, the attempts by his elderly parents to reach out to him were met with indifference and, at times, outright hostility. Nevertheless, Jia gradually began to lower his defenses, often taking leisurely walks with his father, during which they would stop to buy a few bottles of beer. In a thoughtful gesture, Jia Fengsen complied with his son’s request for Beatles cassette tapes.

Unfortunately, in early 1996, just as Jia seemed to be turning a corner and almost six months sober, he slipped back into addiction after a night of heavy drinking to celebrate his twenty-ninth birthday. In a moment of aggression, he hit his father, insisting he was merely imparting the “meaning of life.” In response, his family sought help from the authorities, leading to three policemen arriving the next day to escort him to a mental institution.

During his stay at the institution, Jia was placed on medication and exhibited significant improvement. Crucially, he stopped indulging in his delusions and started to view himself as an everyday person rather than a tormented soul. After a thorough assessment, the doctor concluded that Jia did not suffer from schizophrenia but advised continued residence in the facility to ensure his complete recovery from drugs. Finally, after a year of struggles and triumphs, Jia was discharged on March 19, 1997, coinciding with his thirtieth birthday, marking a hopeful new chapter in his life.