A new film, based on a woman's real-life experiences, focuses on how a Chinese woman managed to navigate life and find her independence after turning 50, showcasing women's power and perseverance.

Cast and crew pose with the woman who inspired the story, Su Min (center), for a group photo at the premiere of "Like a Rolling Stone," in Beijing, on Sept. 10, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Lima Media]

"Like a Rolling Stone," directed by Yin Lichuan and starring Yong Mei, tells the story of a woman who dedicated her life and heart to her family before turning 50. After that, she decided to take control of her own life, becoming a nomad and breaking free from the constraints and pressures of love, family and society. 

The story is based on the real-life journey of 60-year-old Su Min, a women who has been the subject of many heated discussions on Chinese social media. So far, she has earned five million followers across various platforms, with posts and short videos about her and her experiences having amassed views over 1.5 billion and 500 million, respectively. 

Su, from Zhengzhou, Henan province, embarked on a long-term, independent road trip in 2020, leaving behind her family and status quo life. After decades of sacrificing her own pursuits and desires for others, she made the significant life choice to change her life's path and to hit the road, living solely for herself. Spanning four years, her journey has taken her to 400 Chinese cities. 

At the Beijing premiere for "Like a Rolling Stone" on Sept. 10, director Yin expressed how she was first inspired to create the film adaption of Su's journey, saying that she assembled an all-female crew to prepare for the film after hearing about Su going against the status quo and living for herself. "We didn't have to communicate a lot at work because we understood the dilemma of women. I always say to my crew, 'this is a rock film, and Su Min is a rock star. She listens to her inner voice in her fight and rebellion,'" Yin said.

The director pointed out that this film is not just about a woman leaving home, but instead is about the motives behind her decision to leave home. "Why does she leave, and how does she do it? The character in the film embodies the common situation of traditional Chinese women of her generation. With her strong vitality and initiative, she is determined to be herself, no matter her age."

"We all witnessed the lives of the previous generation of women when we were children; their endurance, numbness and suffering planted seeds in our hearts. I always told myself that no matter what I must not end up living like my mother," recalled leading actress Yong Mei. "A friend sent me an article about Su Min's road trip and I immediately felt it was a great story. So, I forwarded it to the director and the screenwriter, A Mei. The three of us saw the story at almost the same time and it instantly clicked with all of us."

A poster for "Like a Rolling Stone." [Image courtesy of Huace Pictures]

Su Min herself attended the film's premiere, becoming moved by how her journey was portrayed on the screen. "They made the film so authentic, it made me feel as though I was transported back to my past days."

In August, Su told Yangtze Evening Post that she was once unsure and nervous, wondering if anyone would really be interested in watching the story of a "most average woman" who had always put others before herself, being confined to a narrow space within her family and losing the chance to experience love and to realize her own dreams. "My intention is not to encourage everyone to leave their families, but to find themselves and live their own lives brilliantly," Su said then. 

"Like a Rolling Stone" was released nationwide on Sept. 15, the start of China's three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday period. It received a high score of 8.6/10 on China's review aggregation website Douban.com and earned more than 42 million yuan ($6 million) at the Chinese box office during the period.

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