Audiences are thrilled with "Every Dog Has Its Day," the closing film for the domestic film exhibition section of the 2025 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival. It premiered in Xiamen, Fujian province, on Nov. 14.

Director Yue Yang speaks at the premiere of "Every Dog Has Its Day," in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 14, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Maxtimes Culture]

Directed by Yue Yang and starring Lin Gengxin and Li Youbin, the film follows a deeply unhappy retired steelworker. He believes he hired a dangerous caregiver, Ma Teng, to help end his life. The caregiver is actually a well-meaning, but perpetually unsuccessful man who just wants to earn money for his daughter. Through their unlikely and comical partnership, the two form a profound friendship. The two go onto help each other confront their fears of illness and death and find a new will to live.

Director Yue Yang said the film was inspired by the wish of her friend and late script writer Shao Yan. Shao once told her: "If my kindness toward friends has never been let down, and I have received much kindness from both strangers and acquaintances, then that is success."

When discussing the film's focus on life and death, Yue said, "We did not treat life and death as a dilemma, but as a situation that everyone may face. Presenting this 'letter of introduction about life and death' through a light comedy format might make it more accessible to audiences."

Yue, who previously served primarily as a producer, now takes the helm as director for Shao. Although the film centers on two men, she said, "I feel that choosing to tell the story of these two male characters is also a challenging exercise and an experiment for a female creator. I hope to delve deeper into whether, under extreme circumstances, more friendship and the power of kindness can emerge."

As a refreshing comedy filled with laughter and warmth, the film deconstructs the heavy theme of life and death with a lighthearted tone. Yue said, "I think comedy has extremely strong emotional value, but life and death are heavy and relatively taboo topics in Chinese families, so this film is also an opportunity for me to communicate with my elders."

Yue emphasized the theme of kindness throughout the event. "We want to convey many things in this film, but ultimately we only aim to express one message. If we show a little more goodwill and kindness toward each other, our situations may become better."

Cast and crew of "Every Dog Has Its Day" pose for a photo at the premiere of the film, in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 14, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Maxtimes Culture]

The other screenwriter for the film, Liu Qian, also shared her insights: "As long as you have kindness around you, friends, and the support of family, everything can be resolved smoothly or you can find a good way to address it. As long as everyone believes there is hope, anxiety is not scary."

The film will be released nationwide this year, the producers said, though the date has not yet been set. Its first showing at the Golden Rooster film festival, which concluded on Nov. 15, drew both laughter and tears from audiences.