Written and directed by Shao Yihui, who also served as the editing supervisor, the film "Good Things," featuring leads Song Jia, Zhong Chuxi, Zeng Mumei, and Zhang Yu, is set to be released nationwide on November 22. This weekend, the film kicks off early screenings and is already earning impressive reviews.
Poster for "Good Things"
As a parallel story to the film "Love Myth," "Good Things" also takes place in Shanghai, maintaining its avant-garde style and unique tone. It tells the story of two very different women who find solace and grow together as they face old traumas and new challenges. Filled with contemporary Shanghai flair and the vibrancy of urban life, it balances exquisite liveliness with thoughtful reflections. Through "Good Things," director Shao Yihui showcases a fresh perspective on new emotional relationships from the viewpoint of contemporary women, as well as unique contemplations on the dynamics between the sexes.
On November 9, "Good Things" held a grand premiere in Shanghai, where director Shao Yihui and lead actors Song Jia, Zhong Chuxi, Zhang Yu, and Zeng Mumei appeared for a pre-screening discussion, sharing their fresh creative experiences with the audience.
The grand premiere of "Good Things" in Shanghai
Female Perspectives on New Emotional Relationships
In "Good Things," Song Jia plays Wang Tiemei, a single mother who is the quintessential "all-around woman," adept in both managing her household and raising her children, alongside navigating the challenges of life. However, she too has moments that defy societal expectations. Zhong Chuxi portrays Xiao Ye, a 'love-brained' character who openly embraces unconventional romantic relationships and can unapologetically invest herself in them. Yet beneath her seemingly carefree exterior lies a heart bearing numerous scars. Together, as they support one another to tackle the challenges life throws their way, they delve into the depth and space of emotional themes that have been rarely depicted in Chinese cinema.
Still from "Good Things"
Having played numerous vibrant and powerful female roles, Song Jia expresses a deep affection for her character Wang Tiemei, praising the director for creating "charming, lively characters" in the screenplay that differ from the stereotypical portrayals often seen in previous films, offering rich opportunities for expression and storytelling.
Zhong Chuxi remarked that her character Xiao Ye "has already flowed through me; she has left an imprint that I may carry with me in the future."
Still from "Good Things"
The female characters in "Good Things" are vibrant, and the male characters break free from traditional stereotypes. Men who have studied gender issues grapple with new "confusions" and "questions." Lead actor Zhang Yu jokingly mentioned that he felt protected by "the aura of femininity" this time, saying, "I finally don’t have to play such tragic roles; it’s very relaxing, thanks to the women."
When discussing the transition from "Love Myth" to "Good Things," director Shao Yihui noted that "Love Myth" originated from the male character Lao Bai's perspective, with a story that predominantly unfolded through a male lens. Although it featured a rich array of female characters, Shao felt that those women's stories hadn't been fully developed. This prompted the desire to create a narrative that solely focuses on women's perspectives. He summarized, "'Good Things' concentrates more on women themselves—three women from different age groups with various life experiences, and their shared emotional resonances."
Still from "Good Things"
Traditional love stories often conclude with "fairy-tale endings," and in recent years, the theme of "female awakening" has mostly described the journey from naivety to realization. Yet, what kind of life must individuals face beyond the "fairy-tale ending" and after awakening? "Good Things" begins with "awakening," presenting a panoramic exploration of real, new issues encountered in urban life via the lens of contemporary men and women and non-traditional relationships. The film's sharp and unique female perspective distinguishes it from traditional narrative styles and presents fresh, youthful topics. Its bold, avant-garde takes on diverse views of love break conventional expressions, showcasing the lives of urban men and women. Beyond creating a lighthearted and humorous atmosphere for viewers, "Good Things" also offers a distinctive "space" for discussion.
"I might be particularly adept at and enjoy movies that feature ensemble casts capable of delving deeply into various topics," Shao Yihui describes the creation of ensemble characters as his "comfort zone," emphasizing that while the story is fictitious, the emotions depicted stem from his own life experiences and the characters are manifestations from within.
Group photo from the premiere of "Good Things"
Speaking Shanghai, No Matter the Language
In contrast to the local Shanghainese characters in "Love Myth," "Good Things" centers on a broader segment of the city's population—the "migrant" community. While the previous film featured Shanghainese dialect prominently, this one still retains a strong Shanghai essence without needing to rely on the dialect.
Shao Yihui shared that he has lived in Shanghai for a long time and has incorporated some of his own life experiences into both films. "Shanghai is truly a 'female-friendly' city," he noted. "The more civilized and advanced a city is, the more respect and friendliness it shows toward women." As a woman from a "small place," he expressed how upon arriving in Shanghai, he felt a genuine sense of respect allowing for personal subjectivity to be particularly free, enabling a lifestyle that is liberating and unrestrained, rarely judged by others. "Shanghai's inclusiveness and modernity are well-suited to my free-spirited nature," he added.
Poster for "Love Myth"
In 2021, when "Love Myth" was released, it ignited a wave of film location visits, and the butterfly pastries mentioned in the film quickly drew long lines. This time, "Good Things" also features many lesser-known Shanghai "landmarks," showcasing more understated street-side shops and everyday streets, presenting a pleasant, leisurely quality full of texture.
The film was shot at 25 locations across Shanghai, incorporating 51 diverse sites into the storytelling, including Juban Road, Yueyang Road, Tongfu Li, the Guotai Cinema, and the Drama Art Center. A promotional video called "Loving Shanghai" was simultaneously launched alongside the film premiere, combining footage from both "Good Things" and "Love Myth." This city walking route, featuring many classic scenes from the films, is an important part of the "Loving Shanghai—Traveling with Film" series of activities initiated by the Shanghai Film Bureau and the Shanghai Cultural and Tourism Bureau, exploring new "Film +" consumer scenes in Shanghai's film city. With the film's upcoming release, it is believed that the interaction between life on and off the screen will spark more wonderful moments.
Notably, the production company of "Good Things," the Shanghai Film Group, celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, and this youthful and trendy film has been chosen to open the 75th Anniversary Film Festival of the long-established studio. The premiere event on November 9 also marked the opening ceremony for the "Instant Release · Celebrating 75 Years of Shanghai Film" festival. As the first film from the Shanghai Film Group’s new slate for 2024-2026 to meet the audience, "Good Things" embodies the creative characteristics of the studio’s "Shanghai style and contemporary highlights" through a youthful lens. This film festival will showcase 29 classic representative works from Shanghai Film and two upcoming films, "Good Things" and "Operation Fox Hunt," receiving a warm response since ticket sales commenced.
