"This Woman" and Her Tangled World
Briefly

Alan Zhang's film "This Woman" is a nuanced melodrama that centers on Beibei, a middle-class woman in Beijing juggling an affair and family dynamics. Although the story appears simple, Zhang's approach eludes many psychological elements, creating a rich yet incomplete portrait that represents larger societal issues. As Beibei navigates love, infidelity, and her relationship with her mother while maintaining her career in real estate, the film captures the complexities of modern Chinese life, expressing a bold modernism that resonates beyond the individual character.
Zhang’s film offers a straightforward narrative enriched by its omissions, crafting a portrait of Beibei that, while detailed, leaves much to the audience's interpretation.
The film’s intimate focus on Beibei reveals the broader societal currents in China, making viewers reflect on the interplay of love, ambition, and familial duty.
Read at The New Yorker
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