Love for Life

Original Title: 最爱
Directed by: Gu Changwei
Written by: Gu Changwei, Yang weiwei, Yan Laoshi
Cinematography: Gu Changwei, Yang Tao, Christopher Doyle
Music by: Zuoxiao Zuzhou
Country: China
Genres: Drama, Romance
Duration: 100 min
Release Dates: 10 May 2011 (China), 2 Nov. 2011 (Rome Film Festival)
Filming Dates: April 2010 – 8 July 2010
Filming Locations: China (Beijing)

Synopsis:
Set in a remote village in Mainland China during the 1990s, Love for Life centers on villager Deyi, who used to lead a simple, harmonious life with his family. But his selfish elder brother Qiquan, desperate to escape poverty, deals in the black market blood trade and persuades the villagers to sell their blood. An infectious and incurable “fever” epidemic soon breaks out, and the once peaceful village becomes plagued by fear, hatred, and suspicion. Driven by guilt, Qiquan’s father Lao Zhuzhu rounds up the afflicted – Deyi included – and accommodates them in the deserted school as a temporary home. In that isolated community where conflicts and despair come unchecked, Deyi finds renewed passion for life when he meets fellow outcast Qinqin, the forsaken wife of his cousin. Fueled by mutual pity, the two tortured souls seek solace in each other, and decide to take their last chance at happiness while their days are numbered.
Cast

Aaron Kwok
Zhao Deyi

Zhang Ziyi
Shang Qinqin

Pu Cunxin
Qi Quan

Jiang Wenli
Cook

Tao Zeru
Grandpa
Photos

Production stills

Captures

More pictures

Videos

Trailers

Love for Life Teaser Trailer
1:29 min   |   686 views
Love for Life – Trailer 1
1:00 min   |   653 views
Love for Life – Trailer 2
2:13 min   |   642 views
Love for Life – Trailer 3
1:23 min   |   661 views

Articles
Aug 16, 2013
Newsweek
The Martial Artist
Jan 08, 2013
Time Out Shanghai
Interview: Zhang Ziyi
Oct 23, 2011
The Independent
The men who gave Aids to rural China
Aug 14, 2011
GB Times
Actress Zhang Ziyi is China's pride
Jun 23, 2011
The Wall Street Journal
Zhang Ziyi’s Favorite Films
Aug 9, 2010
China Daily
Red ribbon leads AIDS orphans to summer camp
May 22, 2010
Hollywood Reporter
Zhang Ziyi to star in China AIDS film
Bonus

• AIDS is a real problem in China. The film with its documentary Together helped to break the taboo of AIDS in China.
• HIV/AIDS-related subject matters are rarely touched upon in China, and always thought to be a taboo. Backed by the government, the film is said to be the first time the blood-selling scandal of the 1990s has been featured in mainstream Chinese culture. -Wikipedia
• Together, directed by Zhao Liang, is a documentary made during the filming of Love for Life. It portrays the struggles and complicated life of AIDS patients in China.
• In the film, some characters are played by real AIDS Patients.
• The film was selected at the 5th Rome International Film Festival in 2011.
• After the finishing the film, Ziyi became spokesperson of Red Ribbon China.
• More than 50 minutes were cut before the final cut that had been seriously re-edited to make the film more commercially viable.
• Many Chinese celebrities made cameo in the film like Jiang Wen, Feng Xiaogang and Chuan Lu.

Awards and Nominations

20th Shanghai Film Critics Awards
Best Actress (2011)

Youku TV Awards
Best Actress (2011)

5th FIRST Youth Film Festival
Most Popular Actress (2011)

6th Rome Film Festival
Lancia Award (2011)

China’s 50 Most Beautiful People Awards
Celebrity of the Year (2011)

3rd China Film Directors’ Guild Awards
Best Actress (2012)

2nd Chunyan Film Awards
Best Actress (2013)
Ceremony Category Recipient Result
2011 Shanghai Film Critics Awards Best Actress Zhang Ziyi Won
Best Director Gu Changwei Won
2011 FIRST Youth Film Festival Most Popular Actress Zhang Ziyi Won
2011 Youku TV Awards Best Actor Aaron Kwok Won
Best Actress Zhang Ziyi Won
Best Director Gu Changwei Won
2011 China’s 50 Most Beautiful People Awards Celebrity of the Year Zhang Ziyi Won
2011 Golden Rooster Award Best Actor Aaron Kwok Nominated
Best Music Zuoxiao Zuzhou Nominated
2011 Rome Film Festival Lancia Award Zhang Ziyi Won
Golden Marc’Aurelio Award Gu Changwei Nominated
2011 Golden Horse Film Festival Best Supporting Actress Jiang Wenli Nominated
2012 China Film Director’s Guild Awards Best Film – Nominated
Best Director Gu Changwei Nominated
Best Actor Aaron Kwok Nominated
Best Actress Zhang Ziyi Won
2012 Beijing Student Film Festival Best Picture – Nominated
Best Director Gu Changwei Won
Best Actor Aaron Kwok Nominated
Best Actress Zhang Ziyi Nominated
2012 China Film Media Awards Best Film (Audience) – Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Pu Cunxin Won
2012 To Ten Chinese Films Festival Top 10 Films Gu Changwei Won
2013 Chouyan Film Awards Best Director Gu Changwei Won
Best Actress Zhang Ziyi Won