Synopsis

Ms. Li leads her single life with her daughter. Beibei enjoys Tango after her divorce. Gloria feels at ease when her rich husband disappears. Three women of different backgrounds cross paths because of Mr. B. Mr. B is a self-claimed master-of-all-trades, who teaches painting to the elder people. His best friend, Mr. Wu, is humorous and lives in a love myth. The living room of Mr. B is the gathering space for the three women and two men. In the modern city of Shanghai, they are trying to live their life to the fullest.

Director’s bio

Born in Shanxi, Yihui Shao received her bachelor’s degree in Literature at Beijing Film Academy. Her screenplay Dream Diver has won the best animation script at the 9th Beijing Film Academy Golden Words Awards. During pre-production, B for Busy has won the Catching Shadow Legendary Award and the Seventh Art Pictures Award at FIRST film festival.

Curator Note

Are these feelings of ours the side effects of being young? We love art, long for love, and are anxious and confused about our careers and income. We feel sentimental about living our urban life lonely, busily and ordinarily. Wise as we thought we were, we believed that all side effects of our youth would be gone when we earn wisdom from ageing. It is not until we are middle-aged that we realise that these feelings are not a by-product of youth. We are still obsessed with the myth of love. When I picture how we meet, I am still willing to talk with you about drama, music and movies late at night sipping wine. The women filmmaker’s sense of humour in the Myth of Love 《爱情神话》 is mellow but fresh, like the old allies of Shanghai, where the scents of sweet-scented osmanthus, washing powder, street food and coffee all diffused in the busy morning.

—--Peize Li

Director’s statement

Life is miserable, but we shall love. As the scriptwriter and director of B For Busy, I want to present the down-to-earth side of Shanghai never shown in any film before. By portraying the love between the middle-aged, I want to show a new perspective to the audience. Unlike the romance between young people, the love of the middle-aged is swamped in chores and often neglected. I hope to look at the emotional corners which we have overseen for a long time. I hope my film is enjoyable, and its depth is woven into the performance of the characters. I managed to find the balance between reality and drama.

Casts

Zheng Xu (Mr. B)

Yili Ma (Miss Li)

Yue Wu (Bei Bei)

Hongjie Ni (Gloria)

Yemang Zhou (Lao Wu)

Credits

Editor: Qiongyi Huang

Production Designer: Yingzhang Fu

Sound Design: Bo Wen

Composer: Wenzi