Elevator, directed and written by Yan Fei, and starring Liu Tingzuo and Song Ziqiao, announces to be premiered on January 22. The film was shortlisted in the “Chinese New Style” unit of the 23rd Shanghai International Film Festival. It is worth mentioning that a fresh attempt was made for Elevator on its narrative technique. The film was shot almost all the way in an elevator.
The film is about a couple, who are about to break up, trapped in an elevator. Many things have gone wrong in the life of this middle-aged couple, and they decide to divorce after ten years of marriage. On the eve of divorce, they meet at their former residence to end their relationship.
The film focuses on ordinary youths in urban life, with an eye on common people in real life. The story unfolds from the perspective of the hero Cao Xiaojun, displaying the breakdown, estrangement, and reconciliation in a spousal relationship and their self-finding and self-redemption. From hurting each other to helping each other, from arguing with each other to understanding each other between the two characters, it not only shows the complexity of relationships, but also reflects upon many predicaments.
Despite a limited number of characters in a limited space, the film actually maps out social phenomena. It is not meant to probe into marriage and emotions only, but covering more universal social topics, discussing anxiety over ideals and life predicaments in contemporary life.
As a low-budget Chinese film, Elevator was shot in a confined space, which is a unique feature of the film. Stories in such type of films are more difficult to narrate, and many technical obstacles need to be overcome during shooting and scheduling.
Director Yan Fei is a post-80s. With a passion for films, he has always been adhering to the principle of directing and acting by himself. He shot his first short film Crash in 2012, and directed Be Together in 2014.
The hero Liu Tingzuo was featured in Legend of Miyue and May-December Love 2, etc., and the heroine Song Ziqiao in My Sunshine, etc.