Chinese film Her Heart Beats in Its Cage 监狱来的妈妈, originally promoted as being “based on a true story” and even featured its real-life subject as the lead actress, has come under fire as Netizens accuse the film of glorifying crime and misrepresenting the original case.
Controversy Surrounds Chinese Film About a Woman Who Killed Her Husband
The film, which follows an ex-convict named Hong, learning to reconnect with her son and mother-in-law after being released from prison, is accused of portraying the story as a case of “self-defense against domestic violence” when court findings reportedly describe the incident as a couple’s dispute that resulted in intentional injury leading to the death of the husband. There was also controversy about how the film was made with claims that female lead Zhao Xiaohong, whom the story is based on, was still serving a prison sentence when she participated in filming in 2019, raising concerns about procedural violations.
The film’s timeline has also been questioned as it reportedly only filed for permits after filming was already completed. Additionally, there are allegations that the director managed to film in prison under the guise of a “prison documentary” without revealing the purpose to also film content for commercial purposes.
Celebs Like Wang Han and Yao Chen Distance Themselves
Following the backlash, people have distanced themselves from the project. TV host Wang Han issued a statement apologizing, saying he hadn’t done sufficient due diligence and agreed to be listed as producer though he has since severed all ties with the production team. Meanwhile, renowned actress Yao Chen, who had previously helped promote the movie, has quietly deleted her post.
The pressure has now turned toward Zhou Dongyu. The actress was the only Chinese jury member at last year’s San Sebastián International Film Festival in Spain. At the time, she supported the film, leading to Zhao Xiaohong’s Best Actress win for Her Heart Beats in Its Cage.
At present, the social media account of Zhao Xiaohong (who also goes by Zhao Xiaopeng) have been restricted with all her previous posts wiped. The film’s upcoming release has been postponed and everyone attached to it bearing the brunt of public backlash and industry scrutiny.
Liao
This movie is a total sugarcoating of the crime that the actress committed. She was never the victim of domestic violence, as can be supported by the court verdict. She murdered her husband in cold blood!