Sheng Qin (Ai Liya) hires Cotton (Yan Bingyan) to take care of her senile father, Mr Sheng (Wang Deshun). Overcoming the generation gap and taking care of a senile man who keeps mistaking her as his late wife seem difficult at first, but those challenges are nothing compared to what happens when Cotton is impregnated by out of wedlock. This heartfelt drama tackles difficult topics about family and the stigmatisation of single parents in Chinese society with warmth and humour, buoyed by moving performances by its three leads.
Yan – excellent in acclaimed and underrated drama Feng Shui (2012) (Chinese Film Panorama 2013) – is captivating as a working-class woman facing the crisis of her life. Yan and Ai are so good together that both won prizes for their respective roles at the 19th Shanghai International Film Festival’s Media Awards.
The film, organised by the China Cultural Centre in Malta, screens at St James Cavalier today at 7.30pm. Tickets sell for €7 or €6 for Cinema Club Members.