As clouds are rolling and spreading, the rain nourishes all things. Strangers When We Meet, an award-winning film of the 14th BJIFF Tiantan Award, hit cinemas nationwide on May 17, meeting the audience in this beautiful season when the spring ended and the summer just began. 

　　A poster of Strangers When We Meet 

Strangers When We Meet was adapted from the true story of The Murderous Girl in a Wedding Dress. The film featured Han Sanping as the executive producer, Zhang Guoli as the director, and Fan Wei and Zhou Dongyu as the leading actors. Besides, Song Jia and Deng Feiyou also made guest appearances. After spending 27 years behind bars, Old Qin is released from prison to find himself without any family and only a substantial sum of money from a demolition compensation. Determined to fulfill a vow he made to his parents to continue the family lineage, he seeks a spouse in a women’s prison, where he meets Chang Juan, a woman harboring a secret. Upon her release, Chang Juan seeks marriage and eyes Old Qin’s money. However, in her view, someone who has served time in prison doesn’t deserve to carry on their lineage. Inevitable conflicts arise as secrets come to the surface... Both are faced with heart-wrenching decisions time and again: Old Qin chooses life, giving everything for just a shred of warmth; Chang Juan leans towards death, holding no attachment to this world. How will they redeem themselves? 

　　Character posts of Strangers When We Meet

The portrayal of Old Qin by actor Fan Wei in this film earned him the Best Actor award at this year's Tiantan Award, the second best actor award after seven years. Zhou Dongyu, who once served as a jury member of the 13th BJIFF Tiantan Award, changed her previous image, and vividly depicted the most difficult state of a vegetative patient, making “the biggest breakthrough in her film career”. Thanks to superb performances, they both presented a wonderful feast of acting skills on the big screen. 

　　Fan Wei, winner of Best Actor of 14th BJIFF Tiantan Award

On April 20, director Zhang Guoli and actress Zhou Dongyu shared their views on the film from the perspective of creators at the premiere of Strangers When We Meet, the Official Selection of BJIFF Tiantan Award. Director Zhang Guoli summarized Old Qin and Chang Juan as “very purposeful”. Behind the marriage for interests of their own, with one seeking children and the other seeking money, the persistence and secret of two marginal characters of society are hidden. “Old Qin thinks he would not be filial without having children, so he wishes to fulfill his commitment to parents with a child,” the director explained the deep motivation of Old Qin’s seeking children with traditional filial piety. For Chang Juan, “what keeps her alive is that she has to pay for her past”, Zhou Dongyu revealed that Chang Juan’s choice of “cheating on marriage for money” is relevant to her unknown past. 

　　Director Zhang Guoli

As a realistic film, it seeks to present the real aspect of life. “We are very calm and objective, in an attempt to show the ‘living’ side of life.” The director expressed his original intention of creation, and interpreted the film title, “Perhaps there are many happy moments in life, but there are also sudden stormy moments. I think I haven’t seen such subject for a while.” In order to present Chang Juan in a more realistic way, Zhou Dongyu also shared her thinking and choice during performances, “Chang Juan’s expression is not dramatic, but should be natural, and there is no need to place acting skills on this character.” Zhou Dongyu also highly praised Fan Wei for Old Qin he played in the film, “He acts like a sweeping monk.” Director Zhang Guoli spoke highly of these two leading actors, “Fan’s sincerity, Zhou’s explosive power and their fit with the roles make them perfect as the hero and heroine of the story.” 

　　Director Zhang Guoli and actress Zhou Dongyu attend the meet-and-greet of Strangers When We Meet

After the film’s premiere at the BJIFF, the two leading actors, Fan Wei and Zhou Dongyu, have impressed many people and have been widely acclaimed for their impressive performances. The film dares to look at the dark side of human nature, and reflects the reality in unusual plots. The helplessness of life and uncertainty of fate let the two characters living at the bottom of society drift like duckweed, waiting for the sunshine in the stormy weather. Many viewers said that the film presents very different value and warmth due to its vivid portrayal of life details, deep exploration of social issues and delicate concern for nobodies. 

Strangers When We Meet, an award-winning film of 14th BJIFF Tiantan Award, is currently hitting cinemas. Let’s meet in cinemas, looking forward to its wonderful viewing experience. 

　　Meet-and-greet of Strangers When We Meet at the BJIFF