Director, Li Yu, was in a city halfway across the world when she and her long-time producer, Fang Li, hit on the idea of making a film about the urban life they knew in Beijing.

Li, one of China's few rising female filmmakers, said they were at a sidewalk coffee stand in Toronto in 2005, having presented their film, Dam Street, at the Canadian city's International Film Festival.

"Looking at Toronto's city life, Fang and I suddenly started chatting about our city, Beijing, and we decided immediately to write a story about Beijing today," said Li.

The result was the new film, Lost in Beijing, to be released locally as, Apple.

The film delves into the lives of the thousands of migrant workers who are lured each year to prosperous Beijing, hoping to make their fortune and enjoy the attractive modern lifestyle on offer.

Apple centers on two families, one rich and one poor, thrust together in harsh circumstances in China's booming capital.

The pretty Liu Pingguo (whose given name means apple in Chinese) has recently moved to the city with her husband, An Kun. Having both found jobs, they now earn enough to lead a modest life, even managing to save a little.

Liu works as a masseuse at a salon owned by Lin Dong and his wife, who are desperate to have a baby. During a party, Liu drinks too much. Taking advantage of her drunken condition, Lin rapes her.

Her husband, An, who works as a window cleaner, observes the assault. His jealousy and rage soon dissipate when he hits on the idea of blackmailing the rapist.

But when Liu falls pregnant, her husband suspects Lin to be the father and attempts to squeeze more money out of his wife's employer. Before long, the situation escalates dramatically.

The director looks at urban China's newfound wealth from a woman's perspective, focusing in particular on how women are dealing with the great changes.

She said the film was largely influenced by the dynamic pace of life in Beijing, and the transformation of its residents that comes with material wealth.

"In today's China, especially in more developed big cities, women have much more freedom due to their financial independence," Li said. "But one of the biggest challenges they face is the increase of affairs happening for married men whose incomes are much higher and attractive to younger women who would be their mistresses. There's more pressure on married women these days.

"More and more professional women are seeking the singles' life," she said.

Though Lost in Beijing failed to take home honors at February's 57th Berlin Film Festival, the director said she was very happy to have had the chance to compete there. Moreover, Li said her film sold well during the festival.

"To me, the overseas recognition is a good sign of my Chinese stories getting understood by the audience outside of China," she said. "I always feel happy being understood by the people in China and overseas."

Apple opens at cinemas citywide on May 18.