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I recently watched Her Story, a Chinese comedy-drama (genres: comedy, drama) that runs about 120 minutes, and while I had high hopes for its heartfelt premise, it left me with mixed feelings. Directed by Shao Yihui, the film follows Wang Tiemei (Song Jia), a resilient single mother who suddenly loses her job and has to relocate with her young daughter, Nini (Zeng Mumei). In their new neighborhood, Wang Tiemei strikes up an unlikely friendship with her quirky neighbor, Xiaoye (Zhong Chuxi), who seems bubbly on the surface but is quietly battling depression. As these two women lean on each other, they form a makeshift family that includes Nini, navigating life's curveballs like meddlesome ex-husbands—Wang Tiemei's former spouse (Zhang Yu) keeps stirring up trouble—and budding romantic entanglements, all while rediscovering joy in the everyday chaos. What drew me in right away was the sweet core of a single mom building her own circle of support, turning strangers into something like family. Nini (Zeng Mumei) is an absolute standout—she's this wise-beyond-her-years little girl who's incredibly perceptive and grounded, clearly a testament to how well Wang Tiemei (Song Jia) has raised her despite the hardships. Their bond feels genuine and touching, and scenes of the trio hanging out brought some real warmth to the screen, highlighting themes of chosen family and quiet strength. That said, I was completely shocked by how "woke" the movie wound up being, which clashed with my expectations for an international film. I watch Chinese cinema hoping to escape those elements that dominate American shows, but Her Story dives headfirst into them. There's this awkward subplot where people assume Wang Tiemei (Song Jia) and Xiaoye (Zhong Chuxi) are gay just because of their close friendship, which felt out of place and forced—especially in a Chinese context where the culture isn't exactly open to alternative sexualities. It came across as shoehorned in for progressive points rather than organic to the characters. Then there's the heavy "I don't need a man" vibe permeating everything, with Wang Tiemei (Song Jia) portrayed as this ultra-strong, independent woman who's bossy and unapologetic. Her casual fling with a younger guy (Mark Chao) is explicit and promiscuous, emphasizing her sexual freedom in a way that screamed modern feminism, which I found jarring and unnecessary. The low point for me was that cringe-worthy dinner table scene where Wang Tiemei's ex-husband (Zhang Yu) and her new boyfriend (Mark Chao) get into this absurd challenge, arguing over who’s read more "woke" books and who believes men are inherently worse—it's like a parody of feminist talking points, but played straight, and it pulled me right out of the story. All these elements—promiscuous behavior, overt feminist agendas, and gay undertones—ruined what could have been a charming tale about a single mother and her adorable daughter forging real connections. Instead, it mirrors the very American tropes I try to avoid, proving that you can't always assume Asian films will steer clear of that stuff. Overall, Her Story had so much potential with its relatable setup and lovable characters like Nini (Zeng Mumei), but the heavy-handed social messaging overshadowed the heart. If you're into light-hearted stories about female friendships, it might still be worth a watch for the early charm, but brace for the ideological detours. If you like that sort of content, then you may really like this. But, if that is not your jam, then you might, like me not care for this one.