Pandemic 'invisibility' inspired Singaporean director's film

Ten years after his directorial debut, Ilo Ilo, Singaporean director Anthony Chen delves deeper into his understanding of the changing world and his love for cinema in the new romance film, The Breaking Ice.

Starring actress Zhou Dongyu and actors Liu Haoran and Qu Chuxiao, the movie tells the story of a young man from Shanghai who travels to Yanji, a small city in Jilin province, to attend a friend's wedding. During his visit, the man unexpectedly encounters a female tour guide and develops feelings for her, unwittingly becoming entangled in a love triangle that also involves a chef.

Earlier this year, the movie was nominated in the Un Certain Regard section at the 76th Cannes Film Festival. It has also been shown at the 71st Melbourne International Film Festival in Australia and is set to participate in the 48th Toronto International Film Festival in September.

During recent promotional events, Chen revealed that the uncertainty brought about by the pandemic years, when cinemas and filmmakers were "invisible" to the public, served as inspiration to create this film, which explores the psychological realm of young individuals and their inner worlds.

Since it opened in China on Aug 22, the film has grossed more than 23 million yuan ($3.16 million).