Documentary series casts glow on growing old

Leaving aside the pursuit of love, the third episode Tomorrow Will Be Better offers a different way to view aging, which should not be seen as a barrier to fulfillment but as something that brings power and freedom.

On Nov 20, 2020, the Ministry of Public Security lifted the age limit for driver's license applicants as long as they meet physical and mental requirements. Soon after, Xu became one of three men over 90 in Shanghai preparing to take the exam. The other two quit half way but the retired physical education teacher has kept trying.

In the episode, director Xu Yiling, the youngest member of the team, says she was fortunate to encounter the oldest man in the documentary series.

"It sounds romantic but also quite controversial, that a 96-year-old wants to take on the challenge of driving to take his wife on a road trip. There are many voices in the story, including those with concerns and doubts, but it seems Xu Wei is the only one who believes that as long as he keeps trying, he can make it," Xu Yiling says, adding that "tomorrow will be better" and "this is life" are his pet phrases. She chose the first as the title of the episode.

For Xu Yiling, the story is not just about an elderly man learning to drive, but also about how to face adversity and grasp the steering wheel of life. She says that amid cheers of encouragement, viewers will find that the seemingly unrealistic slogan genuinely has the power to heal lives.