Still Tomorrow

Still Tomorrow is a profound and astonishing documentary that sprung from the Chinese film industry in 2016. Directed by the acclaimed filmmaker, Fan Jian, the movie showcases the tale of Yu Xiuhua, a disabled rural woman who rises to fame as a remarkable poet. Starring in the titular role, Yu Xiuhua embodies her own story with unwavering frankness, her life unfurling on the silver screen is as powerful as her verses on paper. Supporting her in the cinematic representation of this riveting journey are fellow actors Zhou Jinxiang and Yu Wenhai, who portray other significant figures in her real-life narrative.

The documentary explores the exemplary journey of Yu, a woman who lives within the confines of an isolated farm in rural China, suffering from cerebral palsy and navigating the societal and personal complexities that come with it. The movie presents an intimate portrait of Yu’s life, unvarnished and unadulterated, a testament to the gritty honesty that not only marks her poetry but also her perspective on life. Notwithstanding her physical limitations and societal restrictions, Yu channels her poignant experiences, astute insights, and raw emotions into her poetry, striking a chord with millions across the country and eventually spiraling into an overnight literary sensation.

Still Tomorrow delves deep into Yu’s profound attachment to and understanding of love, through her fevered dreams, her tumultuous marriage, and her relationships defined by a combination of craving and unraveling. It delves into the dichotomy of her life – her residence filled with familial disputes and agricultural labor morphed into a beloved literary canvas that housed her vivid imagination.

The relationship dynamics within Yu's family are explored in depth, particularly her complicated marriage and the role of her parents. The participation of Zhou Jinxiang and Yu Wenhai in the on-screen portrayal of these relationships plays a significant part in magnifying the emotional stakes. Their performances offer a realistic portrait of the challenges that Yu faces in her personal life and how that fuels her thought process and creative expression.

The aspect that sets Still Tomorrow apart is its rawness, its unflinching portrayal of Yu's struggles with her disability, her troubled marriage, and the drastic change when she was thrown suddenly into the limelight. The film portrays not just the romantic notion of an atypical poet escaping obscurity, but an unpolished sketch of a woman grappling with fame, desires, and the disappointments, showing the audience that beneath the celebrated poet persona, Yu is a woman navigating the waters of ordinary and extraordinary challenges.

In Still Tomorrow, Director Fan Jian skilfully captures more than just the surface of the poet's life. The film captures the essence of the rural Chinese landscape and society that forms the foundation of Yu’s life, experiences and work. He paints a vivid picture of Yu's complex life through intimate interviews, veiling and unveiling the layers of her personality, her past, and her dreams through subtle and stirring imagery. The rusticity of her surroundings is presented in a stark contrast to her fine, elegant poetry, showing how art can blossom in the most unexpected of circumstances.

Fan Jian's direction has indeed contributed in revealing the subtle hues of Yu’s character, her strength, and her vulnerability. The film walks a fine line between being a pure biography and an intense drama as it portrays Yu Xiuhua grappling with the newfound identity of a celebrity poet and her own personal demons. It offers an enthralling portrayal of Yu's rise to fame, her wrestle with her personal and professional life, and her journey towards self-realization.

The movie treads sensitively through the themes of disability, gender norms, rural hardships, fame, sexual liberation, and self-empowerment, making it a captivating watch. It does not gloss over the harsh realities of Yu's life. Instead, it presents them in their hard-hitting truth, creating an impactful narrative.

Still Tomorrow, on the whole, is a deeply moving and thought-provoking documentary that transcends beyond the bounds of traditional storytelling and biography. It tells the extraordinary story of a most ordinary woman living her life with unyielding courage and expressing it through art. It is an emotional journey that leaves audiences contemplating long after the last scene. The rawness of the film melds with the beauty of Yu's poetry, fostering a poignant cinematic experience that captures the heart and soul.