Emerging director explores the struggles of individuals

China.org.cn

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Up-and-coming director Yin Ruoxin spoke to China.org.cn about her desire to shine a spotlight in her films on the lives of normal people and the struggles they go through.

Yin Ruoxin's directorial debut Farewell, My Lad will eventually be released on Aug. 27 after the film's distributor opted to delay its launch. The release comes four months after her blockbuster drama Sister, which was actually her second directorial work, appeared in movie theaters, grossing a staggering 860 million yuan.

Farewell, My Lad is the film Yin feels closest to, partly because it is connected to her personal experiences. In her third year at the Central Academy of Drama, a teacher asked her and her fellow students to delve into their own childhood memories and relationships with their families.

At that time, I had an idea for a story about a boy and a girl, but I wasn't satisfied with it until 2017 when I picked up the idea again as I had a clearer picture of what I really wanted, she said. Some events in the news also prompted me to think about the influence family has on people and their school friends.

While many films about teenagers opt for a romantic direction, Yin chose an unusual path, crafting a story of companionship and friendship amid cruel bullying at school and juvenile crime in a mining town.

I really believe that at that age, although teenagers may have some vague feelings of love, friendship comes above everything else, and they try to support and help each other, pure and simple, the director explained.

Her script received positive feedback from producers, investors and at many film festivals. Yin feels that actress Zhang Zifeng and actor Zhang Youhao are perfectly cast in the roles, while the two young actors - who have already amassed big fanbases - loved and resonated with the characters Yin created. The cast and crew worked around the clock in a small town in Yunnan province to finish the filming.

The director admitted she put many of her childhood memories into the film, and stressed the importance of family and how these intimate relationships can shape a person. When you're facing difficulties, you have to hold onto those precious emotions and the kindness and positive things in your heart. And then you should work hard to struggle through that, Yin said of the message she wanted to deliver to the audience.

A poster for Farewell, My Lad. [Photo courtesy of Dadi Film]

While famous for making drama films about young people facing real-life problems, Yin also expressed her interest in making war films as well as other genres. However, she always wants to retain a focus on portraying people.

Meanwhile, amid much discussion about Chinese female directors, Yin said she could only speak for herself and how she looks at the world. I'm interested in telling stories that reflect realities, as well as the choices people make and their self-realization, she said. That's the direction I want to keep going in my future work.