Synopsis
Overview
Lighting Up the Stars is a 2022 Chinese mainland drama family film. The film was directed and written by Liu Jiangjiang, produced by Han Yan, and stars Zhu Yilong and Yang Enyou. Set against the backdrop of China's folk funeral industry, the film tells the story of a mortician and an orphan who go from clashing with each other to...
Overview
Lighting Up the Stars is a 2022 Chinese mainland family drama film. Directed and written by Liu Jiangjiang, with Han Yan as producer, the film stars Zhu Yilong and Yang Enyou in leading roles. Set against the backdrop of China's folk funeral industry, the film explores profound themes such as life, death, family, and responsibility through the heartwarming story of a funeral director and an orphan who progress from mutual conflict to redeeming each other. With its unique thematic perspective, sincere emotional expression, and solid performances, the film sparked widespread social discussion and emotional resonance after its release, becoming a "dark horse" in the 2022 Chinese film market and achieving excellent box office results and critical acclaim.
Plot
The story takes place in the alleys of Wuhan. The male protagonist, Mo Sanmei (played by Zhu Yilong), after being released from prison, inherits his father's business and runs a funeral home named "Heaven." However, he is filled with disgust and confusion towards this profession that deals with death. One day, while handling a funeral for a family, the deceased's eight-year-old granddaughter, Wu Xiaowen (played by Yang Enyou), unexpectedly appears. Raised by her grandmother, Xiaowen cannot understand the meaning of "death" and stubbornly believes that Mo Sanmei "took away" her beloved grandmother. This stubborn, red-tasseled spear-wielding little girl, reminiscent of the mythical figure Nezha, barges into Mo Sanmei's life.
Initially, the two clash constantly, and Xiaowen's presence turns Mo Sanmei's already chaotic life upside down. However, during their forced cohabitation, the two lonely souls gradually grow closer. Mo Sanmei sees the pain and helplessness Xiaowen feels after losing her loved one, while Xiaowen senses the kindness and warmth beneath Sanmei's rough exterior. They progress from opposing each other to depending on one another, forming a special, non-blood-related family that is closer than kin. Through handling various funerals and witnessing numerous farewells, Mo Sanmei begins to re-examine the meaning of his profession and the weight of life. He ultimately achieves self-redemption and growth, truly understanding the profound meaning behind the phrase "nothing in life is a big deal except death."
Cast
The following are the main actors and their character introductions:
| Actor | Role | Character Introduction |
|---|---|---|
| Zhu Yilong | Mo Sanmei (Third Brother) | A funeral director recently released from prison. Outwardly ruffian-like but kind-hearted inside, he rediscovers the meaning of life and his profession after meeting Wu Xiaowen. |
| Yang Enyou | Wu Xiaowen | An orphan who lost her grandmother. Stubborn and brave in character, she carries a red-tasseled spear and barges into Mo Sanmei's life like a "little Nezha." |
| Wang Ge | Wang Jianren | Mo Sanmei's partner and friend, co-managing the "Heaven" funeral home. |
| Liu Lu | Yin Baixue | Mo Sanmei's sister, who cares for her brother but expresses it in a direct manner. |
| Luo Jingmin | Old Mo | Mo Sanmei's father, an older-generation funeral director who holds deep reverence and a sense of legacy for the industry. |
Cultural Impact
Lighting Up the Stars has had multiple positive impacts on Chinese society and culture. Firstly, the film boldly focuses its lens on the funeral industry, typically considered "unlucky" and avoided in conversation. It presents the daily life of funeral directors from a plain and respectful perspective, referring to them as "star planters," which greatly dispels social prejudice against the industry and promotes public understanding and respect for end-of-life services.
Secondly, the film successfully wraps the heavy topic of life and death within a warm, healing story set in the烟火气 (vibrant everyday life) of the city. It avoids deliberate sentimentality, instead conveying the simple life philosophy of "cherishing the present and living well" through vivid characters and humorous details. This light-handed approach to a serious subject allowed audiences of all ages to gain insights about family, responsibility, and love, triggering widespread emotional resonance.
Finally, during a period of relative downturn in the 2022 film market, the film achieved a box office comeback based on its solid quality and word-of-mouth, boosting market confidence. It proved that locally-rooted stories close to reality and sincere in emotion possess strong vitality, providing new ideas and templates for the creation of Chinese family dramas. Zhu Yilong's image-breaking performance and child star Yang Enyou's spirited acting were also widely praised by audiences and the industry.
References
- Douban Movie. Lighting Up the Stars Introduction and Rating. https://movie.douban.com/subject/35460157/
- People's Daily Online. Movie Lighting Up the Stars: Deconstructing the Life-and-Death Proposition with Warm Comedy. http://ent.people.com.cn/n1/2022/0624/c1012-32455845.html
- China News Service. Lighting Up the Stars Becomes a Dark Horse, How Did a Funeral Theme Move Audiences?. https://www.chinanews.com.cn/yl/2022/07-04/9795001.shtml
- China Film Administration. Notice on the Filing and Approval of National Film Scripts (Synopses) in June 2022 (Partially Involving Film Information). http://www.chinafilm.gov.cn/chinafilm/contents/141/3965.shtml
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