Director Li Xu's "Sunflower in the Dark" premiered on Tuesday in Beijing, earning wide praise from critics and audience members for its bold exploration of life and death.

Director Li Xu (R) and actress Narenhua talk with audience members in Beijing at the premiere of "Sunflower in the Dark" on Nov. 28, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Dayandi Culture Media (Hebei Province) Co. Ltd.]

The movie follows the story of a woman confronting a terminal illness. Opting to forego treatment, she returns to the countryside where she once lived with her late husband. In her quest for closure, she relives fond memories from her past, encounters a shadow puppet performer, interacts with left-behind children and uncovers the true warmth of life.

At the premiere, Li explained that the film's title, "Sunflower in the Dark," represents the darkest moment in people's life when they may face their own dilemmas. "In this darkness and abyss, the film explores whether people are willing to chase the sunlight like sunflowers, whether they are willing to face challenges in the darkness, and whether they are willing to live optimistically in adversity," he said.

The film unfolds at a gentle pace, devoid of contrived dramatic conflict. Despite the scarcity of dialogue, it emanates a deep and tranquil strength, guiding viewers through the protagonist's evolving fate and encouraging contemplation on the profound aspects of life and death. "Sunflower in the Dark" stands out as a film for its rare subject matter and expressive style, making it a year-end release that will resonate with almost everyone. 

The ethnic Mongolian actress, Narenhua, described Li as a bold director. She commended his courage in tackling such a theme for his directorial debut and adopting a daring approach "reminiscent of a monologue" in this film. These aspects provided Narenhua with a fresh and novel acting experience. Encountering a talented director is a stroke of luck, she said, and her collaboration with Li was characterized by harmony and sparks of creativity.

Born in 1994, Li holds a doctorate from the Chinese National Academy of Arts and is now a teacher at the Beijing Film Academy. The film was screened at several international events this year to much acclaim, including winning a Remi Bronze Award at the 56th WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival in the United States, an Audience Award at the 9th Barcelona International Film Festival in Spain, and commendations in Nice, Madrid, Cannes and Tokyo.

A promotional poster for "Sunflower in the Dark." [Photo courtesy of Dayandi Culture Media (Hebei Province) Co. Ltd.]

The film's art director, Cao Jiuping, believes that Li is a director who knows exactly what he wants, and has a very strong creative direction. "He won't give up his pursuit due to other distractions," Cao said. 

Zhou Xinxia, the film's editor, admitted that "Sunflower in the Dark" is a challenging film with almost no precedent for reference in terms of editing. "This kind of surreal work is actually a feeling in the author's own heart. We are just giving it a concrete form through film. The conscious imagery and meaning are things the film will inspire and encourage the audience to think about themselves, and Li Xu achieved that," Zhou said.

Among the audience, Jidi Majia, one of China's most acclaimed ethnic minority poets and honorary president of the China Minority Literary Association, praised the film for delving into the inner world of human beings, which is rare in today's film market. This, he believes, provides ample food for thought in contemporary cinema.

Pan Yikui, deputy director of the National Art Museum of China, believes that the visuals in this film, whether capturing natural landscapes or depicting characters, are exceptionally beautiful. He commended the film for portraying the beauty of life and spirit, offering a positive and uplifting reflection on the spiritual aspects of existence.

Li's fellow director Huang Jun also praised the work: "What I can feel from this film is a profound sense of Zen, the impermanence and vitality of life, and a human's persistence and letting go."

Li Mili, chairwoman of the Beijing Radio, Film and Television Association concluded that "Sunflower in the Dark" is not just a pure film, but also a sacred one.

"Sunflower in the Dark" will be released in theaters nationwide on Nov. 30. 

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