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Lighting up the Stars

Original title: Ren sheng da shi
  • 2022
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
Enyou Yang and Yilong Zhu in Lighting up the Stars (2022)
Watch Lighting Up The Stars MV
Play trailer3:18
4 Videos
56 Photos
ComedyDrama

Having been released after serving his sentence, a funeral director accidentally crosses paths with a girl which brings about an unexpected change in his attitude towards life.Having been released after serving his sentence, a funeral director accidentally crosses paths with a girl which brings about an unexpected change in his attitude towards life.Having been released after serving his sentence, a funeral director accidentally crosses paths with a girl which brings about an unexpected change in his attitude towards life.

  • Director
    • Jiangjiang Liu
  • Writers
    • Jiangjiang Liu
    • Min Yu
  • Stars
    • Yilong Zhu
    • Enyou Yang
    • Ge Wang
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    2.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jiangjiang Liu
    • Writers
      • Jiangjiang Liu
      • Min Yu
    • Stars
      • Yilong Zhu
      • Enyou Yang
      • Ge Wang
    • 29User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 27 wins & 28 nominations total

    Videos4

    Lighting Up The Stars MV
    Trailer 3:18
    Lighting Up The Stars MV
    Lighting Up The Stars
    Trailer 0:31
    Lighting Up The Stars
    Lighting Up The Stars
    Trailer 0:31
    Lighting Up The Stars
    Lighting Up The Stars
    Trailer 0:20
    Lighting Up The Stars
    "Remember you" Trailer
    Featurette 1:43
    "Remember you" Trailer

    Photos55

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    Top cast9

    Edit
    Yilong Zhu
    Yilong Zhu
    • Mo Sanmei
    Enyou Yang
    • Wu Xiaowen
    Ge Wang
    • Wang Jianren
    Lu Liu
    Lu Liu
    • Yin Baixue
    Jingmin Luo
    • Old Mo
    Chuang Chen
    • Uncle Wu
    Chun'ai Li
    Chun'ai Li
    • Hai Fei
    Qian Wu
    Qian Wu
    • Xixi
    Weili Zheng
    • Mo Dajie
    • Director
      • Jiangjiang Liu
    • Writers
      • Jiangjiang Liu
      • Min Yu
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews29

    7.52.2K
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    Featured reviews

    10GINNN_D

    Funny comedy with Awards worthy acting

    Great movie, heart felt and touching. Fast paced with hilarious moments that came naturally. Light hearted story telling but focusing on loss, coping, love and family. Amazing actors. Yilong Zhu pulled off Mo with an awards worthy performance. He changed so much, basically a different person. Very convincing as a rough working class guy at the lowest point of his life. Enyou Yang at her young age played amazingly well. Definitely recommend!
    10antoniaclamens

    Totally worth watching

    I wish I was gifted with the ability of writing so I could give full justice to this movie in my review.

    Funeral themes are not something I like to think of so I was curious about the Director's approach, specially in China, a country with so much history and traditions. I was happy to find that it was a very human and down to earth tale Director is telling and full of heart.

    The relationship between Sange, an ex convict and a homeless little girl feels very organic, the chemistry between them is palpable. The way he becomes a better person after knowing Xiao Wen is a treat to watch.

    The relationship between Sange and his father also feels real, showing the lack of communication as the usual problem between fathers and sons.

    The setting in Wuhan a city full of life, the dialect, the way the movie is filmed, the acting in general, everything adds to the movie.

    An special shout to Zhu Yi Long, the way he transformed into Sange leaves me in awe! No wonder even Chinese audience didn't recognize the actor.

    So if you have the time to watch this movie please do it! I'm sure you won't regret it!
    8BogdanH

    Remember, this one is original

    I don't know much about cinematography in Far East, because I've only seen a handful of movies from there. Being from Europe, I can't really distinct between movies from China, South Korea, or Japan. I think it's in Japanese movies, where men always shout even in normal conversation -at least it sounds so in my ears.. but then, I don't speak Japanese :-)

    Lightning up the stars is quite emotional and entertaining movie. Story is simple and realistic, without pretending to be melodramatic. And so is the cast. They are not just "acting".. they are "real" and very good at that -I hope, you understand what I mean.

    To keep it short: If you're in the mood for "light drama", watch this movie before Hollywood decides to do a remake (and makes a cr*p out of it).
    10pagal-tigerniskson

    One of the sweetest films in years

    I have been exactly craving for movie like this for a long time. Koreans are the experts in ellicit these kinds of emotions in me like what this films did. Surpisingly this time it comes from china.

    The child actress and the lead actor chemistry was fantastic. Wu Xiao wen is so adorable she practically lived the role.

    I Could watch this film again and again just for her acting alone.

    The first scene itself who hasnt been 30 seconds since the film started has hit me hard and made me tear up. Since then so many scenes had drenched me in tears.

    Slice of life drama on dealing with departed loved ones.

    I love how the film ended and the post credits sond and scene was super adorable. I could keep on Praising this movie.

    This is is defintely a must watch for all ages.

    If somone knew where i could find the song that played at the end would be much appreciated.
    10yangnamsu

    An engagingly simple, good-hearted film with fine performances by Zhu Yi Long

    It is exciting to see that with Chinese cinema, besides the studio-assembled big-ticket movies, there's also the flourishing indie film movement which keeps throwing up some delightfully refreshing movies.

    There is a reason why this small indie movie became a huge commercial success - it doesn't exploit its characters for comedy or life lessons; it simply embraces the main characters and lets them be themselves.

    This is also a small movie with a gigantic performance by Mr. Zhu Yi Long. Zhu has ventured far beyond mere surface impersonation, although that is amazing enough, and fully transforms to his character - a funeral worker who just got released from prison. He layers his performance with snippets of individuality. Zhu's work here stands as one of the best performances of 2022.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      After screening in selected cities, the film was officially released on June 24, 2022, making box office champion for the first weekend and received rave reviews. The gross and attendance far exceeded expectations, despite CoVid related closures and hold backs. The almost heroic release and subsequent success may kick-start the declining Chinese movie industry since Spring of 2022.

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 24, 2022 (China)
    • Country of origin
      • China
    • Official sites
      • Official Douyin
      • Official Weibo
    • Language
      • Mandarin
    • Also known as
      • Lighting Up the Stars
    • Production company
      • Lian Ray Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $56,873
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.66 : 1

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