On September 10, the film "Determination to Escape" held its premiere in Beijing under the theme "Reseeing Yourself." Director Yin Lichuan, screenwriter Amei, and leading actors Yongmei, Wu Qian, Zhang Benyu, along with special appearance by Ma Su and co-stars Zenan, gathered after the screening to share their insights and experiences from the filming. The film is set to be released nationwide on September 15.
Poster of "Determination to Escape"
"Determination to Escape" is based on the true story of a 50-year-old woman from Zhengzhou, Henan, named Su Min, who went on a solo road trip, with filming taking place locally. Li Hong (played by Yongmei) has lived a life of "being sidelined." Once, she dreamed of attending college to broaden her horizons, but her father insisted she work early to support the family. Now in midlife, as she hopes to find other ways of living her life, she faces criticism from her husband: "Why aren't you enjoying a good life?" and "What woman doesn't cook?" leading her to develop moderate depression. When her world turns gray, Li Hong decides she will no longer wait; she drives away to live her own life, declaring, "This time, no one can stop me!"
Still from "Determination to Escape"
In reality, during the more than four years since her escape, Aunt Su Min remains committed to her journey and has consistently shared her experiences, sparking ongoing discussions and attention across platforms, amassing over 1.5 billion views online and over 500 million views on short videos. At the premiere, Su Min praised the film for its authenticity, stating it made her feel as if she had returned to the past. "I now live for myself, doing what I love, not for any label," she said.
Director Yin Lichuan expressed during her speech that she felt the sense of breaking free from Su Min's road trip reports. "This story is incredibly inspiring. With an all-female crew at the initial filming stage, we didn’t need much discussion to get to work. The struggles women face are similar regardless of age, class, or background. I often tell the creative team that this is a rock 'n' roll movie. Sister Su Min is very rock 'n' roll; she listens to her inner voice while rebelling."
"This film isn't just about a woman leaving home; we want to explore the reasons behind her departure and how she does it. The character Li Hong represents the common plight of traditional Chinese women from her generation, and with her strong vitality and agency, she is determined to be herself, no matter her age," Yin Lichuan said.
Still from "Determination to Escape"
Yin Lichuan candidly noted that the biggest challenge during the creation of the film was finding male actors. "Audiences often struggle to distinguish the relationship between characters and actors. Many male actors worried that appearing in the film could negatively impact their careers. At this point, actor Jiang Wu (who plays Li Hong's husband in the film) stepped in. He quickly reached a consensus with us and provided many vivid details of everyday life. For instance, in one scene, he instructs his wife to do various chores, and even his habit of tapping on the window for small requests, such as asking for a dish of vinegar, was something he designed himself on set."
Leading actor Yongmei recalled during her speech, "We all witnessed the lives of the previous generation, their endurance, numbness, and suffering planted seeds in our hearts. I once promised myself that I would never grow up to be like my mother. After finishing the film 'So Long, My Son,' I wanted to continue portraying grassroots women. At that moment, a friend forwarded me an article about Sister Su Min's road trip, and I immediately thought it was a fantastic story, so I shared it with the director and the screenwriter. We were all on the same page when we encountered this story."
Still from "Determination to Escape"
During the interactive session after the screening, writer Liang Hong applauded the filmmakers' approach by focusing on family as an entry point. "What we see in the film is the clattering of pots and pans and the helplessness of the older generation raising their children and continuing to care for them. It reflects the essence of daily life in China. For instance, when I was young and at home, my brother had plain steamed buns while I had to make do with cornbread, yet neither my mother nor I considered rebelling against it; it seemed entirely natural. In fact, there are no outright ‘villains’ in the film; no one is portrayed as a bad person, but the notion of the male character being the ‘head of the household’ is deeply ingrained. The director, screenwriter, and Yongmei have remarkably captured the nuances, revealing a gap in everyday life where we see ourselves: this is how we have been living; isn’t it a bit unusual? Yet underlying it is something quite abnormal."
"I cried all my tears during the screening," screenwriter Yang Weiwei shared in her remarks. "This is a film told entirely from a female perspective. We witness familiar scenes and the varying circumstances and choices of generation after generation of women. In recent years, I have often heard friends around me lamenting their struggles, expressing a loss of motivation and a lack of direction. Yet both Su Min's choices and Li Hong's resolute decisions in the film remind us that when you are determined to make a change, you may just create a miracle and lead a life that is different."
