GOLDEN NETWORK ASIA LTD
 
Summary
Staff
Films
News
I AM NOT MADAME BOVARY
SALES All rights, Asia
 
More Information

Completed - MANDARIN - Drama - 139 minutes

Log Line

Li Xuelian stages a fake divorce to secure an apartment, only for her husband to unexpectedly remarry. Li protests to the courts, but withoutsuccess. When her husband further defames her, she embarks on a ten-year journey to reclaim her reputation.

Previous markets

  • Berlin EFM 2017 (Debut)
  • FILMART 2017 (Line up)
Full history

Year of production : 2016

Director(s) : Xiaogang FENG
Writer(s) : Zhenyun LIU
Cast : Bingbing FAN, Tao GUO, Da Peng , Jiayi ZHANG

Producer(s) : Xiaofeng HU

Synopsis

Ten years ago, Li Xuelian and her husband Qin Yuhe staged a fake divorce to secure a second apartment reserved by the government for single people. Six months later, Qin remarried - as agreed - but to a different woman. Furious, Li filed a lawsuit with the County Court. But she lost the case because Judge Wang Gongdao was convinced that the divorce papers were in order.

Refusing to accept the court's findings, Li appeals to the Chief Justice, the County Chief, and even the Mayor, but fails at every turn. She decides that only Qin can give her peace of mind, if he will just acknowledge that the divorce was fake. Instead, he publicly accuses her of being a "promiscuous woman" because she was not a virgin on their wedding night, an accusation that drives Li back to the courts to redeem her reputation.

From county to city, she goes through one trial after another, until deciding to make her appeal in far-off Beijing. In the capital, she is looked after by Zhao Datou, a chef who had a crush on her when they were students. Braving resistance, Li makes her way to the leaders in Beijing who take action - by firing the Chief Justice, County Chief and Mayor who mishandled her case.

Ten years go by and the cases of Li's divorce and her ruined reputation have not been resolved. Li has continued to travel to Beijing every year, but this time Zhao - now a widower - urges her to stay away. Li is furious when she discovers that he has been instructed by county leaders to stop her from pursuing her lawsuit.

Meanwhile, Judge Wang - from the original court case ten years ago - has since been promoted to Chief Justice. He is tasked with ensuring that Li's case does not disrupt the annual National People's Congress. While Li is on her journey to Beijing, Wang has been monitoring her every step.

Years later, by chance Li meets the County Chief who was fired because of her. He asks her why she fought so hard for her case. She reveals that when her husband remarried, she was pregnant. She was fighting not only for herself, but for her unborn child.

Production

Country(ies) : CHINA

FRANCE Jul 05, 2017 HAPPINESS DISTR
GREECE WEIRD WAVE
HONG KONG EMPHASIS VIDEO
HONG KONG EDKO FILMS LTD
LITHUANIA KINO PAVASARIS
THAILAND SAHAMONGKOLFILM
UNITED KIN THUNDERBIRD REL
USA Nov 18, 2016 WELL GO USA, IN


This list is based on the distributors’ declarations.
In the case where you don't agree about one of them, please inform us of the change(s) you request by clicking here.

Festivals and Awards

Toronto - TIFF 2016 (FIPRESCI Prize for Special Presentations)
Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2016 (Achievement in Directing)
Hawaii International Film Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
Golden Horse Awards 2016 (Best Director and Audience Choice Award)
Golden Horse Awards 2016 (Nominations for Best Feature Film, Best Leading Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Film Score)
San Sebastian Film Festival 2016 (Golden Shell for Best Film and Silver Shell for Best Actress)
Philadelphia Film Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
Cinema One Originals Film Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
China Onscreen Biennial 2016 (Official Selection)
Hong Kong Asian Film Festival 2016 (Closing Film)
Hong Kong Film Awards 2017 (Nomination for Best Film From Mainland And Taiwan)
Malaysia Golden Global Awards 2017 (Best Cinematography)
Osaka Asian Film Festival 2017 (Special Screenings)
Asian Film Awards 2017 (Nominations for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Cinematography)
Berlin Critics' Week 2017 (Official Selection)
Zurich Film Festival 2017 (Official Selection)


If any information seems out of date, let us know