"BIG," a new motion picture from renowned filmmaker Wei Te-Sheng, premiered in Beijing on Oct. 16. With its heartrending storyline that moved the premiere's audience to tears, the film expresses a message of cherishing every precious moment.

Actor Cheng You-Fei and director Wei Te-Sheng pose for a photo at the premiere for "BIG" in Beijing, Oct. 16, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Alibaba Pictures]

The film, set in a pediatric oncology ward, tells the tragic yet heartwarming story of six children who are battling cancer and how they, their families and hospital staff navigate their diagnoses and treatments while still finding ways to live life to the fullest. 

Highlighting the children's courage and faith in the face of mortality, "BIG" emphasizes the value of life and the message that "Being is Gift," abbreviated as BIG, which, as the film's title, resembles the ward's number: 816.

At the Beijing premiere, Wei poignantly reflected on his experiences while preparing for the film: "In the pediatric oncology ward, I did not see a single child who did not want to live." He added, "I hope that through this film, I can impart some strength to everyone, enabling them to be stronger and more resilient when facing difficulties."

"BIG" is a film Wei wanted to make since a long time ago, addressing topics he has yearned to explore, including family dynamics, vitality, universal values and youth.

"And I also want to stress that although these ill children may look weak and small, they have big and strong hearts. Their willingness to live on and fight is BIG! We hope we can call them warriors from now on when we meet these children, because they deserve our respect and pride," Wei said at the premiere.

On stage at the Beijing premiere, Wei was joined by Cheng You-Fei, one of the film's young actors, to interact with the audience, who were deeply touched after the advanced screening. 

Cheng revealed that she was initially reluctant to take on the role of Yuanyuan, one of the children battling cancer, because it required her to shave off her hair. "I've always cherished my hair," she said. "But after listening to the director's explanation on the plot, I was deeply moved. He told me that I was not just making a movie, but also doing something meaningful, helping those who cherish life to bravely face challenges."

Besides the use of live acting, the film also uses 2D animation when portraying the children's head-on battle with cancer. Wei revealed that for creating the 2D animation scenes, he enlisted a notable team, including Takumi Tanji, art director for Makoto Shinkai's "Your Name" and "Suzume," and other international talents from Japan and Italy. Wei chose animation to depict the children's battle with cancer because, despite the arduous process, he wanted to avoid a somber tone. Instead, he aimed to reflect the children's perspectives, using clean, bright and warm animation to illustrate their optimistic and positive attitudes during treatment.

A film poster for "BIG." [Photo courtesy of Alibaba Pictures]

Wei is a filmmaker known for creating some of the most profitable films of all time in Taiwan, such as "Cape No. 7," the highest-grossing film on the island. 

"BIG" has been released across the mainland since Oct. 19.

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