Film explores love, loss and human connection

The protagonist, dance teacher Zhan Yumei, is an "outsider" who feels rootless, leading her to become overly attached to and controlling of her son. After his death, she falls into self-denial and isolation, only to be overwhelmed by guilt when the truth emerges.

Sun said the film's complex relationships were not created simply for dramatic effect, but to help audiences understand each character's motivations. "If, after leaving the theater, viewers think of someone in their lives that they've lost and are willing to listen to them again, or revisit a relationship they never understood — that would be the film's greatest achievement," she said.

Rao Shuguang, president of the China Film Critics Association, called the film "a sincere work with warmth, substance and ambition", saying it addresses issues including parent-child relationships and families who have lost an only child while maintaining a sense of hope.

Suo Yabin, a professor at the Communication University of China, said the film uses the "one heart" device to create a "semi-blood family" in which love and guilt intertwine.