Art-house romance "Land of Broken Hearts" will debut in theaters across China on Aug. 10, coinciding with the Qixi Festival, also known as Chinese Valentine's Day.

Director Wen Shipei (right) and cast members pose for a photo at the premiere of "Land of Broken Hearts" in Beijing, Aug. 7, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Bravo Entertainment]

Directed by Wen Shipei and starring Zhu Yilong and Qiu Tian, "Land of Broken Hearts" follows a man who believes his life is controlled by aliens. His life changes when he meets a mysterious woman, who becomes his roommate. Driven by love, he finds the strength to regain control over his life, and start to shape his own destiny.

At the film's Beijing premiere on Aug. 7, director Wen shared its themes: "When you don't believe in love, love is especially unlikely to happen. This movie shows how a man and a woman in the city progress from doubting love and avoiding love to finally believing in love. It is a process of mutual healing and drawing closer to each other."

Wen, acclaimed for his distinctive style and 2021 debut "Are You Lonesome Tonight?", described the new film as an exploration of love, personal growth and emotional healing. The film delves into the complexities of love among contemporary young people, offering insights into human connection through carefully crafted details.

Zhu, who just won best actor for his performance in "Lighting Up the Stars" at the 37th Hundred Flowers Awards on Aug. 4 in Chengdu, Sichuan province, made his executive producer debut on this film alongside veteran filmmaker Ning Hao. The pair were credited with continually injecting new ideas into the movie during the creative process.

"I want to get closer to cinema, to understand it more deeply, trying to glimpse the whole picture of the film," Zhu said of his new producing role. He noted that the script resonated with him. "I don't want to repeat the same self every day; I hope to expand my dimensions every day."

A poster for "Land of Broken Hearts." [Image courtesy of Dirty Monkey Studios]

Zhu added, "This is a romance film, but it delves into more than just love. It embodies an attitude towards life — a proactive and optimistic one, including a resistance to fate. What resonates with me is that sometimes we must break away from our predefined self-concepts and perspectives on certain matters."

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