On 4/9 local time (the same evening in Hanoi), Shu Qi appeared on the red carpet for the premiere of her directorial debut. The film is competing for the Golden Lion, the most prestigious award at the 2025 Venice Film Festival.

The actress wore an outfit by Indian designer Gaurav Gupta, from the Spring/Summer 2025 Haute Couture collection. On social media, many fans praised her elegant attire with its sophisticated tailoring, which accentuated her slender figure.

The film's cast, from left to right: Roy Chiu Tse, Shu Qi, Bai Xiaoying, and singer 9m88. The four spent time taking photos and interacting with the media before entering the screening area.

18-year-old actress Bai Xiaoying plays Lin Xiaolei, the girl who grows up in poverty and longs to escape her difficult life. The actress, whose mother is Japanese and father is Taiwanese, has been acting since she was 10. She won the Promising Newcomer award for her role as He Jiating in "No Pets Allowed" at the 2020 Golden Bell Awards.

Before the red carpet appearance, the actress attended a press conference for the project. She wore a Bottega Veneta suit, paired with a white T-shirt and a necklace.

According to Shu Qi, after nearly 30 years in acting, she has always pursued her passion for storytelling through images and has been invited to serve as a judge at several international film festivals. The process of evaluating these films sparked a creative desire in her, prompting her to write the script for her directorial debut. She hopes the film will be well-received and resonate with audiences.

Trailer for "Girl", directed by Shu Qi. Video: La Biennale di Venezia

The 125-minute film is set in 1988 in Keelung Harbor. The character Lin Xiaolei is a girl who grows up in poverty, always yearning to escape the darkness of her life. Her fate gradually changes when she meets Li Lili, a free spirit who defies societal judgment. However, Xiaolei's desires inadvertently touch upon the old wounds of her mother, A-Quan, who once had beautiful dreams but was crushed by harsh reality. The characters in the film reflect each other's pain like shards of a mirror, but none can heal the others.

35-year-old singer 9m88 (real name Tang Yu-yi) is highly regarded for her portrayal of Bai Xiaoying's mother. The artist is a prominent figure in the Taiwanese hip-hop and jazz music scene. She is known for her free and unrestrained musical style. Some of 9m88's hits include "Walking Towards Me", "Everybody Woohoo", and "Hello Bye Bye".

Que Chi

Photo: AFP