Viva La Vida

This movie is a melodrama from the get-go so you come prepared, the strange thing is it takes a while to get there. It goes through several phases. It starts with a very detailed and sobering account of life as a dialysis patient, which I had no idea was so grim, but makes sense. Ling Min really has been dealt a bad hand in life, but she does all she can to basically stay alive.

Then Luu Tu comes into her life and he's really a dum-dum. He comes across as either too simple or somewhere on the spectrum. Or maybe both. But it's mostly a gimmick to make us smile I suspect. It bothered me a little cause he's reduced to a stock character, but then something shifts, predictably. There is a twist that was pretty unexpected. Also they did go hard on the melodrama, a little too much with the parents. And then they turned it around. They ended it on a happy note, surprisingly, but this is just the immediate future. Anyway ,I found it refreshing for an Asian drama, cause they do like to make us cry buckets and this one spares us.

What I did like was the genuineness of the characters. They look and act very much like real people, granted in very special circumstances. This is not a polished, flashy drama, nor an over the top emotional one, which I very much appreciated.

This Chinese film, bearing a Spanish title, is not advisable for individuals who struggle to manage their emotions, as it is likely to evoke strong feelings. It presents an unconventional romantic comedy featuring an unlikely pairing of two individuals grappling with life-threatening illnesses. The performances of the young protagonists are commendable; however, the film falters in its conventional concluding segment. This aspect, along with some shortcomings in makeup and wardrobe during the film's initial scenes, constitutes the only notable weaknesses I observed. In all other respects, the film approaches perfection, particularly in the direction by Yan Han and the screenplay co-authored by the director, Liangwen Li, and Xiaoai Wang. The writing is refreshingly original, although an introductory title indicates that it is "partially sourced from the documentary report The Most Pragmatic Marriage Transaction, The Most Emotional Eternal Agreement."

The female lead carries much of the narrative weight, as the story is primarily told from her viewpoint. Gengxi Li portrays Ling Min, a young woman suffering from uraemia who is anxiously awaiting a kidney donor. Her performance captivates with a pragmatic demeanor that masks a profound sense of despair over her life being derailed before it truly begins. With her arm marked by the scars of regular dialysis and a life dictated by a stringent diet, she ultimately posts a video online offering to marry any man willing to donate a kidney. Moments later, she hesitates and removes the video, but soon after, she is contacted by a young man who irritates her from the outset. From this point, around the 20-minute mark, the film transitions into an unconventional romantic comedy.

This film is exceptional, showcasing a harmonious blend of various elements executed with precision. The mobile cinematography by Da Jiang (real name: Zhang Jiang) features a naturally lit, somewhat dark aesthetic, enhanced by the dynamic yet unobtrusive editing by Li Yakun. With five medical advisors credited, the intricate details regarding the protagonists' conditions and treatments appear to be accurate, lending a sense of authenticity to the entire film.

Do not miss this one!

I was skeptical reading the short summary, that this would be a 5 min medical story followed by 2 hours of sappy love story. Gladly, I was positively surprised.

The movie never takes a break from showing how medical issues dictate the main girl's life, the same way how the chronically ill never get a break from their medical issues. It shows her and others around her break down, their families fall apart, their friends become distant, and their health become worse.

The two sick&dying young couple story, consisting of the strong girl and goofy entertaining guy, could quickly deteriorate to low quality tragedy bait, but ultimately doesn't and stays mature throughout.

This story is everything that The Fault in Our Stars tried to be but couldn't. 9/10.

Viva La Vida is the third and final episode themed around life and death from director Yan Han, which, without question, is his best work to date.

The plot might seem a bit of cliché because similar stories about cancer and uremia have been presented to the audience by various producers, but this film stands out due to the impeccable performances of two young actors: Yuchang Peng and Gengxi Li. Besides, it is not only a story about how Tu Luu tried to save his partner Min Ling by offering a kidney as a transplant, but mainly depicting the journey of how two "defectives" face the death together and successfully bounce back from the bottom. The film is so natural and soothing, which makes it really easy to evoke a great sense of emotion between the characters and the audience. The director aimed to minimize performing techniques so the whole movie can have a tone of authenticity. The main theme is not about the horror of the disease itself, but the courage and passion to move on.

Tears were welled up spontaneously when witnessing the hard-won happiness between two leading roles. The process of defeating the illness and the way that characters support each other can make audience deeply resonated, especially the final clip of conversation on the rooftop.

No fear next to the loved ones. Great performances, hope to see more.