Xin Huo’s ‘Bound in Heaven’ Speaks to Domestic Violence and Love
variety.comCallum McLennan 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.
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