Wo bu shi yao shen

This is a realistic movie from China.Realistic meaning is greater than the movie itself.That dying to survive represents the movie theme.the contest between emotion and law,which is a lasting and sharp topic.To a large extent,the theme's overcoming influences and promotes the development of Chinese movies.

Common story for most poor families, cannot afford drug price, finding their own ways to survive. It's illegal but understandable. Drug monopolies like Novartis are way more evil than Monsanto.

Dying to Survive, a 2018 Chinese drama based on the real-life story of Lu Yong, a Chinese leukemia patient who bought cheap cancer medicine from India for 1000 Chinese cancer sufferers in 2004. It's called a comedy-drama but there's just a little comic relief in an otherwise very serious movie. It's also called a noir comedy, which gives a greater idea what you're in for. It's very moving and realistic. The film is loosely based on the story of Lu, who has been regarded as a hero of sorts for importing and selling less expensive anticancer drugs from India to Chinese for CML patients charged huge prices by a Swiss pharmaceutical giant.

It's not related to the politic correctness of Chinese government. It's just the trade-off between the pharmaceutical companies and the patients.

Higher drug price -> Companies gets more money -> More drug researched -> better drug produced and the old drug price drop. It is a chain of the free market in theory.However, that's why the theory is always in theory.

Yes we will finally get the market balance of the drug price when the drug matches the average buying power. However, how many people would die before and after it? Can we really put the lives and souls onto the balance?

Was it worth it? (Yes you are right, I am playing Frostpunk:)

This film changed my perception towards Xu Zheng as he delivers a truly powerful performance. No doubt the powerful subject helps him, as this is a great story to be made into a film. A milestone movie for China as the subject is impactful and authentic (mostly), and most importantly allowed to be shown. The character development is also very well done and supported by a cast of memorable co-stars. A movie that does not try to reach the stars, and just really wants to tell a great story in its own ways, something many other Chinese films needs to learn from.