On November 22, the film "Good Things" officially premiered nationwide. Prior to this, it maintained a strong reputation thanks to several rounds of advance screenings. After receiving an impressive score of 9.1 on Douban, the film began extensive advance screenings this week, with the number of ratings increasing from 50,000 to nearly 100,000, and the score remained unaffected.

Douban rating page for "Good Things"

The film "Good Things" is written and directed by Shao Yihui, starring Song Jia, Zhong Chuxi, and Zhang Yu, with a special appearance by Zhao Youting, and featuring Ren Bin and Zeng Mumei. As a parallel piece to "Love Myth," the film once again uses Shanghai as its backdrop to tell the emotional stories of another group of urban men and women.

Compared to the previous film "Love Myth," which utilized the perspective of "native man" Lao Bai to interconnect the lives of three women, this installment presents a more direct and pure female perspective. The sharp writing depicts the life conditions and emotional choices of contemporary urban women, breaking away from conventional romantic movie tropes. Each vividly real character seems to reshape a fresh female world, much like the film's English title — "Her Story," which explores their lively and vibrant narratives.

Poster for "Good Things"

Song Jia's character Wang Tiemei and Zhong Chuxi's Xiao Ye embody a balance of strength and softness, alongside the workplace newcomer Wang Ju as Xiao Lu, and newcomer Zeng Mumei as Jasmine, showcasing the various situations women face in their growth and lives. However, the notion of "female awakening" has never been a simple or easy slogan. Even those who have been "awake" from the start still encounter their own challenges.

Before the film's release, the three lead actors discussed their roles and the creative process behind the scenes, highlighting the strength they gained from embodying such wonderful characters.

"Tiemei" Song Jia: A strong woman doesn’t need to be omnipotent

Song Jia plays Wang Tiemei, a career-oriented woman who raises her child alone after divorce. Whether it’s regarding her child’s education or caring for her neighbors and colleagues, she serves as a protective “guardian” at the forefront. Wang Tiemei aspires to be an all-capable single mother while also trying to balance her career and family. Yet, within these self-imposed expectations, she inevitably encounters a variety of confusions and dilemmas.

Discussing her reason for participating, Song Jia expressed her admiration: "I've always loved the director's 'Love Myth'. Its unique style is hard to come by in Chinese-language films, as it vividly portrays the intricate emotional relationships of urban men and women. So when I came across 'Good Things', I was immediately drawn in."

Song Jia as Wang Tiemei

Song Jia recalls her impression after reading the script: “Light yet profound; it lacks convoluted plots and grand events. Instead, it opts to focus on a group of lovable men and women, depicting their delicate emotional currents. I really enjoy this feeling.”

In contrast to her previous roles, Wang Tiemei's “lightness” presents a new challenge for Song Jia. “Most of the characters I’ve portrayed in the past carried heavy burdens, whereas Tiemei is a modern, light-hearted urban woman. Although she bears many responsibilities, the pressure and weight on her are not as heavy, making it a different kind of acting experience for me.”

This is a character unlike any she has built before. Song Jia reveals that as she read the script, “I automatically formed a conceptual framework for this character in my mind, drawing parallels to films with similar atmospheres and rhythms, such as Woody Allen's 'Blue Jasmine'.”

Song Jia emphasized the influence of Tiemei's career background on her character, noting, “Tiemei transitions from an accomplished journalist to the head of new media at a magazine, even engaging in live sales. She undergoes a significant career shift but maintains a proactive attitude toward problem-solving. No matter what challenges arise, she finds ways to cope, and this independence is incredibly appealing.”

In the film, the emotional entanglements between Wang Tiemei and her ex-husband, Xiao Ma, are a major highlight. Song Jia believes all three characters are very relatable and endearing: “They all have their flaws, which make them even more authentic and lovable. They might make some foolish or unbelievable decisions, but fundamentally, they are good people, filled with kindness and love toward both their peers and partners. They have the courage to break free from the false ideal of romance and display their true selves, which is quite precious.”

Regarding Wang Tiemei's journey of self-acceptance, Song Jia expresses deep admiration. “Tiemei appears strong and demanding of herself, yet ultimately, she can acknowledge her shortcomings. This requires great courage. Admitting failure and confronting one's weaknesses is a remarkable ability, and Tiemei does this. I find this aspect of her character one of the most moving.”

Wang Tiemei believes she can handle everything, but that isn’t the case. “Even if she ultimately can't resolve her issues, her child will still love her; Tiemei will continue to love her child, and her friends won’t abandon her. The world will keep running as normal, and she won’t miss out on anything.” Song Jia says, “In today’s society, we often scrutinize women: Are they good mothers? Are they successful career women? Have they balanced work and family well? Have they educated their children well? I think Tiemei also wants to break this vicious cycle, but in reality, it’s challenging, as life is filled with regrets, yet it remains beautiful, and that doesn’t prevent us from continuing to love it.”

Regarding the film's distinct feminist viewpoint, Song Jia believes, “This film doesn’t promote a specific ideology toward women but realistically presents the life conditions of women across different generations. Audiences can see a more complex and diversified side of women, such as maintaining friendly relationships with ex-husbands or having discussions on feminism and gender relations with a new boyfriend. These are healthy and positive modes of interaction that are quite rare in previous Chinese-language films, which showcases the charm of this movie.”

As for how she ultimately resolves everything, I’m not sure; the film may not provide a clear answer. Yet perhaps you’ll see her growth and discover your own life solutions.” This is Song Jia’s message to the audience.

"Xiao Ye" Zhong Chuxi: Even if hurt, there will be a day of healing

In contrast to her previous glamorous “goddess” screen persona, Zhong Chuxi’s character Xiao Ye is one filled with contradictions and charm, reeling from low self-esteem and longing for love while simultaneously embracing romance head-on.

Her participation stemmed from a love for the script. Zhong Chuxi recalled, “After reading the script, I was drawn to its light yet profound narrative style; what it conveys doesn’t feel heavy or burdensome but carries depth that allows audiences to ponder.”

Xiao Ye appears carefree on the surface, yet suffers from insomnia, embodying “sunny depression.” Zhong Chuxi candidly admits that she experienced a similar phase in her childhood: “Actors are sensitive. While portraying Xiao Ye, I continually tapped into that sensitive side of myself, amplifying it to get as close to the most authentic version of Xiao Ye as possible.”

In creating Xiao Ye, Zhong Chuxi found inspiration from friends around her. She shared, “The role of Xiao Ye was crafted by the director; through interactions with the director’s friends, I saw reflections of Xiao Ye, piecing together her character like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. The director greatly assisted me in understanding Xiao Ye’s past and her inner conflicts, enabling me to better portray the character.”

Zhong Chuxi as Xiao Ye

She noted the profound impact of Xiao Ye's family background on her personality. “Due to her family background, Xiao Ye exhibits a pleasing personality. She deeply yearns for love but doesn’t know how to love others correctly. Nevertheless, she doesn’t let the trauma from her family background stop her pursuit of love. Even knowing that she might get hurt in relationships, she bravely chooses to love, as she says, ‘I am just braver than others and more capable of loving,’ which makes me feel deeply for her.”

Xiao Ye is portrayed as a band lead singer in the film, which significantly influences her character and behavior. “Because she lacks love, she seeks a sense of value and belonging in music. When she stands on stage and feels the audience’s attention, she can perceive her existence and feeling needed. For her, music acts like a sanctuary where she can temporarily forget her troubles and find what she yearns for.”

Xiao Ye’s growth is particularly evident in the film. Her relationship with her date, Xiao Hu, is fraught with ups and downs. Zhong Chuxi explains that their relationship symbolizes Xiao Ye's internal struggles and growth. “Initially, she thinks she loves Xiao Hu, but it’s really her desire to be loved that drives her. When she realizes that things are not developing as she imagined, she starts to disguise herself, fearing others will see her deep-seated yearning for love. Only later, when she experiences true love through her friendship with Tiemei, does she begin to reassess herself and gradually find reconciliation with her inner self, marking this as a crucial part of her growth.”

Regarding Xiao Ye’s friendships with other characters, Zhong Chuxi has unique insights. “Tiemei is like a cure for Xiao Ye, helping her unlock a correct understanding of emotions and gain a new perspective on herself. Xiao Ye learns a lot from Tiemei, and her relationship with Tiemei is instrumental in her growth.”

Zhong Chuxi expressed that after finishing the film, Xiao Ye became a part of her. She vividly remembers being moved during the scene when Xiao Ye tells Xiao Hu, "Actually, I don’t think I like you that much,” as it struck a chord within her. “I learned a lot from Xiao Ye — that one must learn to love oneself in order to love others better.”

In Zhong Chuxi's view, Xiao Ye’s story reflects some common traits of urban women. “Xiao Ye embodies the freedom, self-rescue, and self-sufficiency of urban women. Compared to other women, they pursue freedom more, have more open-minded thoughts, and are less constrained by traditional ideas. When encountering issues, they prefer to tackle them independently rather than rely on others. They cherish themselves, pay attention to their inner needs, and strive to create a safe and comfortable environment for themselves. Although Xiao Ye faces confusion and setbacks in love and life, she is always searching for her direction, which is a spirit shared by many urban women.”

Zhong Chuxi hopes audiences will feel the genuine emotions between women in the film and witness the characters' growth. She wants viewers to appreciate Xiao Ye’s struggles and perseverance on her journey to self-discovery, and recognize the giving and receiving in women's friendships and romantic relationships, provoking deeper reflections on the life conditions and inner worlds of urban women.

When asked if she would offer any advice to friends