Golden Horse Best Actress Shu Qi portrays a farmer without makeup in the film “Find Her,” in which she serves as a producer. Coming from a modeling background, she has faced criticism from the public for not fitting the image of a farmer. However, director Chen Shizhong has never wavered in inviting Shu Qi to play the role, boldly responding, “Who says rural women can’t be beautiful and charismatic?”
“Find Her” leads the audience into the quiet yet tumultuous sugarcane village of Lingnan. One day, farmers Chen Fengdi (played by Shu Qi) and another pregnant woman, Lin Shen (played by Lang Yueting), give birth at a rural clinic simultaneously. A sudden storm washes down the fence, causing both newborn baby girls to be swept into a pond, but only one is rescued. Since then, Chen Fengdi’s daughter has gone missing, and her world shatters. Surrounded by rumors, suspicion, and prejudice, she embarks on a journey to find her daughter alone.
The 31-year-old director, Chen Shizhong, recalls that the first movie he watched in his life, “Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons,” had Shu Qi as the female lead. Ten years later, their first feature film collaboration turned out to be a beautiful fate. He said, “When I was writing the script, Shu Qi was the only person that came to mind.”
Shu Qi, who has previously portrayed urban women, intellectual women, and female warriors, among other roles, showcases the Lingnan farmer character, Chen Fengdi, with a bare face in “Find Her.” Despite criticisms of Shu Qi never having played a rural role before and not fitting the image, director Chen Shizhong confidently asserts, “I have never wavered in having Shu Qi play this role. Who says rural women can’t be beautiful and charismatic?”
When discussing her creative insights, Shu Qi also mentions that compared to the roles she has previously played, she acutely feels the depth and weight of the character Chen Fengdi, a farmer, which is more close to the reality of many modern women. She describes, “Many women nowadays have this feeling, as if they are gritting their teeth in life. For the sake of survival, they have to accommodate various aspects, constrained by an indescribable force, with deep internal oppression.”
To embody the character, Shu Qi completely sheds her star aura, interpreting the resilience and emotional struggles of a farmer in extreme reality with a simple appearance, restrained emotions, and subtle expressions that are almost imperceptible. She immerses herself in rural life, diligently practices the Lingnan dialect, all to make every struggle of the character authentic and palpable.
“Find Her” portrays the difficulties faced by Chinese rural women in a male-dominated society with a simple yet sharp narrative. Director Chen Shizhong expresses, “The truly tragic aspects of the world are never hidden in the darkness but exposed under the scorching and dense sunlight. Wickedness and suffering are often revealed in broad daylight for all to see.”
Chen Shizhong believes that the mysterious disappearance of the baby girl in the story serves as a delicate incision to explore the survival status of Chinese women and becomes the core of the film’s suspense. The film blends suspenseful events with regional culture, resonating strongly with the audience.