Golden Goblet Awards Main Competition Film｜DONT WORRY, BE HAPPY: A Journey in Search of Light

Today, the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival's Golden Goblet Award Main Competition films began to make their appearances. The Chinese film DONT WORRY, BE HAPPY was the first to be showcased, with executive producer Wang Caitao, director Wei Shujun, and actors Huang Xiaoming, Zu Feng, and Tong Linkai meeting the media. The film tells a heartwarming and healing story: Wu You, a young single man, and his nearly seventy-year-old mother, Shen Liping, rely on each other for survival. When Shen suddenly falls ill, Wu firmly believes that as long as sunshine reaches the heart, miracles can happen. Thus, he embarks on a journey with his mother in search of light.

Seeking breakthroughs has always been a key theme in director Wei Shujun's work. From the short film ON THE BORDER to the feature films STRIDING INTO THE WIND, RIPPLES OF LIFE, ONLY THE RIVER FLOWS, and now DONT WORRY, BE HAPPY Wei believes that while DONT WORRY, BE HAPPY carries his personal expression, as it significantly differs from his previous works in terms of screenplay and imagery. "I’ve always wanted to tell a new story in a new way," he says.

The character of the mother in DONT WORRY, BE HAPPY breaks away from the traditional template of a gentle mother and obedient son. She is lively, romantic, and joyful, never giving up on finding the beauty in life. Wei Shujun discovered actress Lu Xiaofen by chance and was deeply impressed by her relaxed demeanor in her previous films, making her the perfect choice for the role of the mother.

Jia Zhangke's appearance is a "special treat" in DONT WORRY, BE HAPPY Wei Shujun mentioned that when the character of Dr. Cai was created, Jia's image was already in his mind. Jia's performance greatly enriched the character, and his impromptu use of the Shanxi dialect in scenes with other actors became one of the film's highlights.

In DONT WORRY, BE HAPPY Huang Xiaoming takes on a role that starkly contrasts with his usual on-screen image. To authentically portray the life of individuals with special needs, he spent a month living at a facility in Hangzhou. Drawing from this experience, he suggested various details for his character's appearance: a partially bald head, facial spots, even eyebrows, and noticeably uneven teeth. Additionally, Huang noticed that the people at the facility enjoyed sweet foods, so he gained 30 pounds to add depth to his character's dulled sensitivity. "I felt this would help achieve the effect I wanted for the character," he explained.

In contrast to his brother Wu You, who has a more vibrant personality, and their romantic mother Shen Liping, Zu Feng's character, Wu Di, is more grounded. "He is a highly educated orthopedic doctor, but he feels helpless and resorts to desperate measures when the family image he holds dear collapses," Zu Feng remarked. The theme of family plays a crucial role in DONT WORRY, BE HAPPY and Wu Di's character transformation highlights the importance of family in Eastern culture.