With her female-centric debut film, Shu Qi is expected to make a splash at one of the world's oldest and most prestigious film events, according to Variety.

The 123-minute film is set in 1988 in Keelung Harbor. The character Lin Xiao Li 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 Li Li, a free spirit who defies societal judgment. However, Xiao Li'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, but no one can heal them.

Poster for Shu Qi's film "Girl". Photo: La Biennale di Venezia

The cast includes Bai Xiao Ying, Qiu Ze, singer 9m88 (real name Tang Yu Yi), Lin Pin Tung, and Lai Yu Fei. Cinematographer Yu Jing Ping is in charge of the film's visuals.

Shu Qi originally planned to film Hou Hsiao Hsien's Shu Lan Ha Shang before trying her hand at directing. However, Shu Lan Ha Shang was postponed due to the director's dementia, and the crew has not yet found a suitable replacement for Hou Hsiao Hsien.

The 49-year-old Shu Qi entered the entertainment industry at the age of 17 as a model. She successfully transitioned into acting, becoming a top Chinese star. She has won two Golden Horse Awards and three Hong Kong Film Awards, collaborating with renowned directors such as Hou Hsiao Hsien, Stephen Chow, Jiang Wen, and Andrew Lau.

Over 30 years in the entertainment industry, Shu Qi has maintained her beauty and popularity, serving as an ambassador for many international brands. Last year, she served as a jury member at the Venice International Film Festival in Italy for the thu nhat time. She became the third female Chinese artist to serve as a main competition jury member at Europe's three major film festivals, following Gong Li and Maggie Cheung. She previously served on juries at the Berlin Film Festival in 2008 and the Cannes Film Festival in 2009.

The actress married actor Stephen Fung in 2016, and the two maintain independent finances. She has reduced her acting roles in hopes of having children, but has not yet become a mother.

Shu Qi on the set of "Girl." Photo: Weibo Shu Qi

In addition to Girl, the Golden Lion competition features 20 films from various countries and territories, directed by many renowned filmmakers. According to The Hollywood Reporter, notable films include Benny Safdie's The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein reimagines the horror story from a new perspective.

Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos returns to Venice with Bugonia, adapted from Jang Joon Hwan's 2003 South Korean science fiction film Save the Green Planet!. South Korean director Park Chan Wook presents No Other Choice, starring Lee Byung Hun and Son Ye Jin.

The 82nd Venice Film Festival will take place from 27/8 to 9/9. The event will open with the premiere of Italian director Paolo Sorrentino's La Grazia. This year's Golden Lion Lifetime Achievement Award honors German director Werner Herzog and American actress Kim Novak.

The international film jury is headed by American director Alexander Payne, along with actors Fernanda Torres (Brazil) and Zhao Tao (China), and directors Mohammad Rasoulof (Iran), Stephane Brize (France), Maura Delpero (Italy), and Cristian Mungiu (Romania).

Que Chi (via The Hollywood Reporter)