China’s big Lunar New Year films spark social media debate about body issues, self-esteem and justice system
- Total holiday box office reached US$695 million on Wednesday with YOLO leading ticket sales. Also showing are Article 20, Pegasus 2 and The Movie Emperor
- Actor, writer and director Jia Ling is drawing attention for dramatic 50kg weight loss as netizens discuss beauty standards in China
Two Chinese films released over the Lunar New Year holiday have set off a social media buzz, with state agencies even joining the discussion which addresses topics such as weight loss, self-love and legal justice.
Directed, written and starring Jia Ling, a representative of the new generation of female Chinese directors, YOLO (“you only live once” or Re La Gun Tang in Chinese) is about an overweight woman, Leying, who loses weight through boxing training while finding herself and learning to love herself through the sport.
While adapted from the Japanese film 100 Yen Love, the Chinese version is exceptional for Jia’s physical transformation – for the movie she lost more than 50kg (110lbs) in a year to portray the rebirth of her character.
Jia’s weight loss has been discussed more widely on social media than the film.
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Lunar New Year rush under way in China with more travel overseas and to major domestic cities
The director, who became a household name as a comedian, had drawn 1.6 billion yuan (US$220 million) at the box office four days after the film was released. The film is rated 8/10 on Douban, the country’s best-known film review site, with more than 140,000 reviews.
