“The world doesn’t owe you a thing”
- Joy in Joy (2015).
The last two years have taught us that when life challenges you, it’s those who make the best of it, that come out at the end winning. This was perhaps the spirit that we borrowed from Joy that night before we entered 2022.
Perhaps most importantly, the film’s tale of entrepreneurship and the fight for what you love was what truly inspired. We had guests who were contemplating starting their own business but perhaps just needed that extra push before they dived. Other guests hadn’t explored that possibility but the movie made them stop and think.
After the viewing, we were joined by Liu Lu, founder of the fashion brand LUVON by LIULU, fashion icon, independent fashion designer, and content creator on Xiaohongshu and Zhihu. For those familiar with Liu Lu’s content, it is apparent that she is someone who has the ability to communicate the nuances that she’s grasped in life and her studies to benefit those listening.
When asked how she advises people navigate skepticism from those around them, she noted that it’s important to ask yourself: do I want to live a life for myself, or do I want to live my life for others? On the topic of failure, she spoke on the importance of separating failure of something from the failure of self. Just because you failed at one thing, does not mean that you are a failure. Liu Lu also noted that the moment you are no longer afraid to fail, then you have mastered one of the keys to success.
At the end of the event, Dear Cinema transitioned into the New Years Eve party where guests mingled with one another until the clock struck twelve and the new year was upon us. As we left Cinker, we carried the story of Joy and the words of Liu Lu into the night, knowing that although the world doesn’t owe us anything, we owe it to ourselves to live a meaningful life.
Borne as a love letter to cinema, Dear Cinema is a serial film screening event where we aim to celebrate the power of story through the big screen. The next Dear Cinema event by Nova Universal and Women in Media China at Cinker Pictures will be held on Valentines Day, watch this space for more announcements.
Find out more about Liu Lu here.
Film Selection by Jasmine Xie
Creative Direction by Madina Imami
Hosting by Molly Wu and Jasmine Xie
Chinese Copywriting by Molly Wu
English Copywriting by Jasmine Xie
Videography and Editing by Dima Veselov
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Women in Media Organiser Miatta Momoh
Cinker Organiser Lillian Wang