The Sun Rises on Us All (2025) – Xin Zhilei Shines in Cai Shangjun’s Poetic Drama

Love, loss, and memory collide in The Sun Rises on Us All (Chinese: 日掛中天, Rì guà zhōng tiān), a haunting new drama from acclaimed director Cai Shangjun. Starring Xin Zhilei, Zhang Songwen, and Feng Shaofeng, the film is set to release in China on November 7, 2025, after making waves at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, where Xin Zhilei earned the prestigious Volpi Cup for Best Actress.

🌅 A Story of Love and Unfinished Wounds

At its heart, the film tells the story of Baoshu (Zhang Songwen) and Meiyun (Xin Zhilei), former lovers whose relationship was shattered by a tragic accident. Seven years later, fate draws them back together, forcing them to confront long-buried secrets and the lingering scars of their past.

As the tagline suggests, “The past never stays buried; it rises with the sun.” Through its intimate storytelling, the film captures the fragility of human connections and the way memory can both heal and torment.

🎭 Cast and Characters

• Xin Zhilei as Meiyun – a woman torn between resilience and regret, whose performance has already been lauded on the international stage.

• Zhang Songwen as Baoshu – a man haunted by choices he cannot undo.

• Feng Shaofeng as Qifeng – a new presence in Meiyun’s life, complicating the emotional reunion.

The trio anchors the film with layered, emotionally charged performances that breathe life into Cai Shangjun’s vision.

🎥 Behind the Camera

Director Cai Shangjun, known for People Mountain People Sea (2011), returns with his fourth feature film, co-written with Nianjin Han.

The creative team includes:

• Cinematography by Kim Hyun-seok (South Korea), whose lens captures both the vastness of Guangdong landscapes and the intimacy of private despair.

• Editing by Matthieu Laclau (France) and Yann-Shan Tsai (Taiwan), who weave the film’s nonlinear layers of memory and present-day.

• Music by Guo Sida, whose score underscores the film’s quiet sorrow and fragile hope.

Filming took place across Guangzhou, Shaoguan, and Dongguan, infusing the film with the textures of southern China.

🏆 Festival Circuit and Accolades

The Sun Rises on Us All had its world premiere on September 5, 2025, in competition for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. The film was met with critical acclaim, particularly for Xin Zhilei’s raw, vulnerable performance, which earned her the Volpi Cup for Best Actress.

Following Venice, the film will screen in the Centrepiece section at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), solidifying its place as one of the most anticipated Chinese dramas of the year.

📅 Release Details

• World Premiere: September 5, 2025 (Venice International Film Festival)

• China Release Date: November 7, 2025

• Runtime: 131 minutes

• Language: Mandarin

📝 Conclusion

The Sun Rises on Us All is not just a drama—it’s a meditation on time, love, and the lingering shadows of the past. With breathtaking performances, poetic direction, and a story that resonates universally, Cai Shangjun has delivered a film that lingers long after the credits roll.

When it opens in theaters this November 7, 2025, audiences will be invited to step into a world where heartbreak meets redemption, and where every sunrise offers both remembrance and renewal.