Review | Venice 2025: The Sun Rises on Us All movie review – Cai Shangjun returns with sombre drama
Xin Zhilei and Zhang Songwen star in director Cai Shangjun’s film whose themes of sacrifice and guilt have a powerful impact
3.5/5 stars
“The past always catches up with us.” So we are told in The Sun Rises on Us All, Chinese filmmaker Cai Shangjun’s sombre competition entry at this year’s Venice Film Festival. Despite its optimistic-sounding title, this is a film in which sacrifice and guilt weigh heavily on its characters.
Meiyun (Xin Zhilei) is a harassed owner of a fashion retail business; the only time she ever smiles is when she does her livestream, presenting brightly coloured clothes to her captive female audience.
Otherwise, she is dealing with unhappy customers and retailers who owe her money. She is also pregnant and having an affair with a married man who has a young daughter to consider.
Then, at the hospital where her pregnancy is being monitored, she bumps into Baoshu (Zhang Songwen), recovering from a tumour removal.
With little explanation, she takes this spiky man in, allowing him to sleep in her bed while she takes the sofa. She also promises to transfer money into his account to help pay for his medical expenses.