The background of "Hero" is set in 2020: a sudden disaster that disrupted everyone's lives. When society face unemployment when families fall apart, when lovers are separated, when death is approaching quietly, and when a peaceful life suddenly undergoes unexpected changes, how will women respond? What are the vital and irreplaceable roles that men play in women’s lives and growth? The three female directors Zhang Aijia, Li Shaohong and Chen Chong used their unique female perspectives to explore and show people's plights and struggles in family, career, and love in special times.
Acting
Zhou Xun's silent breakdowns should be studied in film schools.
Direction
Three distinct voices, one crushing thematic throughline.
Writing
Jackson Yee's young caregiver arc quietly destroys.
Director
Sylvia Chang
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This marked a rare collaboration between three generations of Chinese female auteurs—Sylvia Chang (Taiwan), Li Shaohong (Mainland), and Joan Chen (diaspora)—each bringing distinct regional sensibilities to shared female precarity.
The film's 4.5 TMDB rating reflects its brutal release timing—audiences in 2022 wanted pandemic escapism, not pandemic realism. It's arguably undervalued for its formal ambition.
CN
