Till Love Do Us Part - Cambridge Film Festival

Liang Cui Shan

Does love conquer all? If only life were that certain. Indeed, uncertainty is the core of this film given its UK premiere at the Cambridge Film Festival. The film ties the stories of two disparate worlds; that of 21st century but still traditional (seemingly certain) China and western Europe – here located in Prague. Shu is a 30 year-old urban planning academic who is stuck in a loveless relationship with the cold-hearted Hu Zhun. In their family world, marriage is transactional. Shu’s mother-in-law-to-be reminds her that thanks to her business success, Hu Zhun can lavish our heroine with the fine things in middle class life. In return Shu is expected to be demur and provide ma-in-law with a healthy grandson. Shu is not so sure and begins to question a life where family warmth is put firmly in the chiller.

The action switches to Prague – in Bohemia (chosen by the director for a very good reason). Shu falls in love with a Bohemian fellow countryman, an avant garde film director called Fan. What follows is a series of unexpected twists and turns where the course of newly-minted love runs as straight as the B road to Wisbech. You are likely to be thrown off guard as Shu’s emotional journey with the theatre guy teases our expectations. Liang Cui Shan as Shu is quite outstanding as the woman on the edge of a lifestyle break down. Some of it is quite hard to watch – not least an excruciating dinner with a bourgeoise couple in a Prague restaurant and Shu’s flash bolt of inner knowledge as she returns to China. This is a brilliantly conceived movie by writer and director Ran Li. Though life is full of uncertainties , there is one thing that is certain; you will love this movie.