“Myth of Love”: Xu Zheng’s Shanghai Symphony of Modern Romance
-By [taojieli.com], Cross-Cultural Cinema Commentator
I. Redefining Romantic Comedy Through Urban Poetics
Xu Zheng’s 2021 masterpiece “Myth of Love” shatters romantic comedy conventions by weaving Shanghai’s urban tapestry into its narrative DNA. Director Shao Yihui crafts a love letter to Shanghai that functions as:
- Geographical Protagonist: The French Concession’s plane trees and wet markets become emotional waypoints
- Cultural Archive: Preserving Shanghainese dialect humor through witty wordplay
- Social Laboratory: Examining China’s urban middle-class emotional discontents
Unlike Hollywood rom-coms’ meet-cute formulas, the film employs a “collage narrative” where:
- Romantic tension emerges from art gallery debates about Picasso
- Intimacy is measured through shared xiaolongbao meals
- Breakthroughs occur during mahjong sessions with ex-wives
II. Xu Zheng’s Midlife Renaissance: From Slapstick to Subtlety
The actor delivers a career-pivoting performance as Lao Bai, blending:
- Physical Language: Shoulder slouches conveying urban exhaustion (reminiscent of Bill Murray’s later roles)
- Vocal Nuance: Code-switching between Shanghainese softness and Mandarin professionalism
- Emotional Layering: Micro-expressions revealing repressed desires during tea-brewing rituals
His chemistry with female co-stars subverts patriarchal norms:
| Character | Dynamic with Lao Bai | Western Counterpart |
|---|---|---|
| Li Xiaolu (Ma Yili) | Intellectual sparring partner | Hepburn/Tracy verbal tennis |
| Ex-Wife (Wu Yue) | Comfortable rivalry | The “Ex-Files” maturity |
| Gloria (Ni Hongjie) | Carnal temptation | Monroe’s breathy magnetism |
III. Feminist Recalibration in Chinese Romance
The film revolutionizes Chinese relationship narratives through:
A) Female Gaze Dominance:
- 58% of dialogues initiated by female characters
- Camera lingering on male vulnerability (Lao Bai’s bare feet in empty apartments)
B) Sexual Agency:
- Open discussions about middle-aged sexuality (rare in Chinese cinema)
- The “Bra Scene” becoming a manifesto for bodily autonomy
C) Professional Parity:
- All female leads hold power positions (gallery owner/entrepreneur/designer)
- Romantic interests secondary to career ambitions
IV. Shanghai as Cinematic Character
The city manifests through:
- Sound Design
- Tram bells vs. smartphone notifications (tradition vs. modernity)
- Jazz covers of 1930s “Shidaiqu” classics
- Culinary Metaphors Dish Symbolic Meaning Scene Context Crab roe xiaolongbao Delicate vulnerability First date hesitation Drunken chicken Marinated regrets Post-divorce reflections Sweet osmanthus cake Ephemeral beauty Gallery opening resolution
- Architectural Choreography
- Shikumen alleyways framing emotional entrapment
- Glass skyscrapers reflecting relationship facades
V. Intertextual Dialogues With Global Cinema
The film consciously converses with:
- French New Wave: Jump cuts during art debates (Godard influence)
- Japanese Mono-no-aware: Transience in falling gingko leaves
- American Mumblecore: Naturalistic dialogues over craft beer
Notable scene analysis (00:52:18-00:55:33):
The group’s Picasso debate mirrors global cultural tensions:
- Chinese appreciation of Western art through local lens
- Western characters’ tokenization of Eastern aesthetics
- Resolution through collaborative dumpling folding
VI. Language as Cultural Code
For non-Mandarin viewers, key linguistic layers to appreciate:
- Shanghainese Wordplay
- “老克勒” (Old Color) – Local term for retro-stylish elders
- “捣糨糊” (Stirring Paste) – Slang for casual relationship ambiguity
- Poetic Subtitles
Fan translations vs. official subtitles comparison:
Original Line Literal Translation Artistic Subtitle
“侬哪能意思?” “What do you mean?” “What symphony is your heart playing?”
“帮帮忙哦!” “Give me a break!” “Unravel this knot with me.” VII. Sociocultural Revelations for Global Audiences The film illuminates under-discussed aspects of contemporary China:- Singles Economy: 40-million unmarried urbanites’ lifestyles
- Divorce Modernity: 45% Shanghai divorce rate’s cultural impact
- Art Market Evolution: Domestic galleries surpassing Christie’s in Asian art sales
Pre-Screening Prep:- Read Eileen Chang’s essays on Shanghai nostalgia
- Watch Wong Kar-wai’s “In the Mood for Love” for visual continuity
- Study Shanghai’s “Haipai” cultural fusion concept
- How does the absence of children in the narrative reflect urban China?
- What makes Shanghai’s romance different from Beijing/Guangzhou love stories?
- Does the ending suggest hope or resignation about modern love?
- Compare with “Before Sunrise” in dialogue-driven romance
- Analyze against “Crazy Rich Asians” in Asian affluence portrayal
- Contrast with “Lost in Translation” in urban alienation themes
“Myth of Love” offers:- Antidote to Exoticism: Presents Chinese romance as equally sophisticated/complex as European counterparts
- Aging Population Insights: Models mature love stories for societies facing declining birthrates
- Soft Power Redefined: Cultural export through emotional authenticity rather than spectacle
Xu Zheng and Shao Yihui have crafted a work that:- Balances local flavor with universal emotional truths
- Challenges gendered storytelling conventions
- Redefines Chinese urban narratives for the 21st century
- Verified cultural data
- Cross-medium comparisons (literature/cuisine/architecture)
- Feminist film theory frameworks