The second film by emerging director Shao Yihui, made over three years, and a companion piece to B for Busy, Her Story was presented at the Golden Rooster Annual Film Launch at 2024 GRIFF Industry on November 14. Screenwriter and director Shao Yihui and lead actors Song Jia, Elaine Zhong and Mark Chao attended the launch.
Director Shao Yihui, who won Best Screenplay at the 35th China Golden Rooster Awards for B for Busy, again takes a woman’s perspective to offer a strong dose of social commentary on screen. Her Story continues the tone and style of B for Busy while expanding on it in every respect. Through ordinary characters and everyday moods, the film addresses contested questions about relationships between women and men, depicts adult relationships, and puts forward a new view of life “after awakening”, overturning traditional gender roles and offering a fresh take on contemporary views of love. Like B for Busy, the film is set in Shanghai, but it focuses more on “outsiders” living in the city, inviting audiences to understand and empathize with the circumstances and state of mind of people living there today.
The film also brings together a strong cast. Song Jia, following the series When the Mountain Flowers Bloom, again turns to a feminist theme, playing Wang Tiemei, a single mother who is “a strong woman who never holds back”; Elaine Zhong goes from the formidable female fighter of Escape from the 21st Century to Xiao Ye, a sweet younger woman; Mark Chao provides the comedy as the “ex-husband” whose name is never mentioned. Together the cast brings humor and freshness, presenting an on-screen “good thing” with both charm and everyday warmth. Director Shao Yihui said that in the world of Her Story, men and women have different views, perspectives and positions, but they can sit down together and talk calmly. She hopes that after seeing the film, more viewers will take a fresh look at themselves and at the friends of the opposite sex around them.
Lead actress Song Jia said Wang Tiemei is very different from the roles she has played before: contemporary, fresh and vivid. Audiences can see her confusion, weakness and growth, and Song hopes the character can give female and male viewers some reflection, warmth, strength and joy. Discussing the debate about “independent women” sparked by Wang Tiemei, Song Jia said that in Wang Tiemei’s view, being an “independent woman” means doing everything well, which in turn becomes a burden. In fact, being an “independent woman” should come more from one’s own way of thinking. In life, not everything has to be done perfectly, and women can share their pressures with others and ask for help.
Speaking about her character Xiao Ye in Her Story, Elaine Zhong said Xiao Ye is never stingy with her love; in receiving and giving love, as long as she is happy, that is a “good thing”.
Mark Chao also shared his reading of the “ex-husband”: although he persistently pursues Wang Tiemei, he is “selfish” by nature.
At the launch, the three lead actors also played an interactive game that gave the audience a closer look at each character’s traits. Since its previews began, the film has drawn a growing response from audiences for its sharp, bold premise and witty comic tone. As the film’s tagline says, “Try something new, talk about something new”. After its release, the film is expected to offer audiences a relaxed and humorous space for discussion.
