Sister (2021)

Genres: Family, Drama Director: Yin Ruoxin

When the heroine An Ran was young, her parents made up a story that she had a disability, in order to have a son. When time came for her to choose a university, they secretly changed her original application for studying clinical medicine in Beijing to studying nursing in their hometown. Later, she planned to take the national postgraduate entrance examination for her medical career in Beijing, so she could free herself from her parents’ control. Unfortunately, before her plan materializes, her parents died in a car accident, leaving her to take care of her six-year-old brother who she hardly knows. Now, she has to face the daunting decision of either pursuing her dream of being independent or raising her younger brother.

The realistic-themed movie has attracted much attention and resonated with the young audience. Living a life with a younger brother, An Ran’s pursuit of independence is completely different from that of her aunt’s submissive fate: An Ran bravely pursues her dream to study medicine, while her aunt gave up the opportunity of studying to An Ran’s father. The family dilemma that An Ran faced during her childhood reflects many social challenges often faced by a certain group of Chinese people who have the identity of being an older sister. The open ending of the movie also leaves the audience with space to find their own answers.