Movie Profile: LIGHTING UP THE STARS
| Attribute | Details |
| Title | Lighting Up the Stars (Chinese: 人生大事 / Life Events) |
| Release Date | June 24, 2022 (China) |
| Director & Writer | Liu Jiangjiang |
| Executive Producer | Han Yan (Go Away Mr. Tumor, A Little Red Flower) |
| Genre | Drama, Family, Comedy |
| Runtime | 112 minutes |
| Box Office | $253 million (¥1.71 billion RMB) |
| Distributor | Lianray Pictures |
| Lead Cast |
• Zhu Yilong (Mo Sanmei / “San Ge”) • Yang Enyou (Wu Xiaowen) • Wang Ge (Wang Jianren) • Liu Lu (Yin Baixue) • Luo Jingmin (Lao Mo / Father) |
| Accolades & Honors | • Golden Rooster Awards (2022): Won Best Actor (Zhu Yilong) & Best Directorial Debut (Liu Jiangjiang); 7 Nominations including Best Picture |
Trailer
Plot Overview
Mo Sanmei (Zhu Yilong), freshly released from prison, reluctantly takes over his family’s struggling funeral parlor, Up the Stars, to appease his strict father. Cynical and disillusioned, Sanmei views funeral directing merely as an unglamorous job to pay off his debts.
During a routine house call, Sanmei transports the body of an elderly woman who passed away in her sleep. Her fiery, orphaned 5-year-old granddaughter, Wu Xiaowen (Yang Enyou), does not understand death and believes Sanmei hid her grandmother. Armed with a toy spear, Xiaowen tracks Sanmei down to the funeral parlor to demand her grandmother back.
When Xiaowen’s remaining relatives prove unwilling to raise her, Sanmei unexpectedly takes the young girl under his wing. As Sanmei helps Xiaowen understand grief—explaining that those who pass away turn into stars in the night sky—their bond softens Sanmei’s rough edges, gives him pride in his profession, and brings profound healing to both of their lives.
