SAN SEBASTIAN – “Bound in Heaven,” the directorial debut of experienced screenwriter Xin Huo, best known for “Kung Fu Hustle,” is the sole Chinese production in the Official Selection at San Sebastián, following its world premiere in Toronto’s Centrepiece section. The film is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Li Xiuwen, a Huading Award winner as part of the writing team for “Medal of the Republic.”
The story turns on Xia You (NiNi), a successful but emotionally drained woman trapped in a violently abusive relationship with her fiancé, played by Liao Fan, who won a Berlin Silver Bear for “Black Coal, Thin Ice.” In a harrowing early scene, Xia You defies her abuser, uttering the chilling and foreboding line, “Don’t smudge my makeup, the guests are still here,” a reflection of the fragile facade she is forced to uphold.
“The theme of domestic violence against women, which is part of the film’s background, wasn’t in the original novel,” director Xin Huo told Variety, “Domestic violence is not only a problem in China but a global issue. According to the latest statistics, 8.6% of married couples or couples who live together in China have experienced physical or psychological violence from their spouse,” she continued.
Fate intervenes for Xia You in the form of Xu Zitai (Zhou You), a street-savvy ticket tout. When Xia seeks Faye Wong concert tickets, the two lost souls collide. It’s lust at first sight, and after another chance meeting, love takes hold. They are swallowed by passion and take the world with them, “demonstrating early and often an ability to express how everything can look just a bit different when you’re in love” Variety’s Stephen Saito said in his review.
“The relationship between Xu Zitai and Xia You in the film contrasts intimacy with vulnerability, social class, aesthetics, physical illness with emotional brokenness,” Huo explained. “It’s also a contrast of urban and rural settings, passion and loneliness. These contrasts inherently create tension,” she said.
These contrasts required a strong connection between the director and cinematographer Piao Songri (“The Shadowless Tower”). “During filming, we worked together in perfect sync, and I completely trusted his visual instincts. It was a seamless collaboration,” Huo said before emphasizing the team effort behind the film: “Beyond Piao Songri, I also had Zhai Tao as the production designer, Dora Ng as the costume designer and some outstanding actors. Together, we completed this film.”
Huo’s cinematic vision has been shaped by years of artistic exploration and inspiration. Reflecting on her journey, she explains, “It’s built on years of accumulation. I remember the first film class we had in university was quite sacred. We watched “Breathless” in that class. The freedom of form, the bold expression, and the extreme emotions of the French New Wave had a profound impact on me.”
“Bound in Heaven” is a story showing a love so deep and so challenged that it implores you to believe love is life. “I didn’t set out to make a love story, although it is one at its core. What I wanted to express was my understanding of humanity and fate through a romantic relationship, set against the backdrop of a specific era,” Huo elaborated.
The film is produced by Such A Good Film, Alibaba Pictures, and Ling Light. Rediance handles international sales, while Alibaba Pictures holds distribution rights in mainland China.
“Bound in Heaven” is one of a growing number of Chinese films in recent years placing women at their center while addressing important social issues. Think of Congcong Teng’s “Send Me To The Clouds,” or Derek Tsang’s “Better Days.” Even smash “”Lost in the Stars, which also starred NiNi, explores gender relations in ways uncommon in mainstream Chinese cinema.
As for what’s next, Xin Huo remains open-minded. “I won’t set limitations for myself. However, my focus on women’s stories, their destinies, and their hidden emotions will remain constant.”