'The Sun Rises on Us All' is about love, loss and second chances

The Sun Rises on Us All, which earned Xin Zhilei the Best Actress award at the 82nd Venice Film Festival in September, hit theaters across the Chinese mainland on Friday.

As of Monday, the art-house feature — also starring actors Zhang Songwen and Feng Shaofeng — had grossed 15 million yuan ($2.1 million) in ticket revenue, ranking as the fourth highest-grossing film at the national box office over the weekend, according to the showbiz data tracker Beacon.

Co-written by director Cai Shangjun and his wife Han Nianjin, the film tells a poignant story of redemption, loyalty and love. Xin plays Zeng Meiyun, a 36-year-old owner of a small clothing store, who unexpectedly encounters her ex-boyfriend, portrayed by Zhang, during a hospital checkup.

Years earlier, the man had taken the blame for her involvement in a hit-and-run accident and served five years in prison. Now, terminally ill with cancer, he is unemployed and struggling to survive. Although Zeng is in a new relationship, she chooses to care for her former lover as an act of atonement — a decision that alters both their lives in unexpected ways.

At the film's premiere in Beijing on Nov 5, director Cai praised Xin for "conveying the character's genuine inner turmoil with restrained yet precise acting", emphasizing that the best performances are those in which an actor's personal charm breathes life into the character.

Xin described Zeng as "a dream role" offering immense space for emotional expression. She also reflected on the other characters, including her new boyfriend, played by Feng, who ultimately breaks up with Zeng after his young daughter takes her own life in protest of their relationship.

"Every character has their own vulnerability, yet they strive to live with resilience — that's the shared fate of all ordinary people," Xin said, sharing her insight into the film's theme.