Film about unlikely bond raises social awareness

Stand by Me, a heartfelt story about the unlikely bond of brotherhood between a homeless thief and a boy, is set to conclude its theatrical run and become available on streaming sites, according to the producers during a seminar in Beijing on Wednesday.

Organized by the Movie Art Center of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Henan Film Administration, major creators, including director Yin Ruoxin and actors Wang Junkai and Chen Yongsheng, attended the event.

The movie was inspired by a 2017 news report about a 21-year-old homeless man who wandered from Sichuan province to Shaanxi province, forming a unique bond with an 8-year-old boy. During their partnership, the man stole items while the child sold them, yet they cared for and relied on each other with a sibling-like affection.

Debuting on Sept 13, the film earned 241 million yuan ($33.83 million) at the box office and was the highest-grossing film during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Actor Wang recalled that when he read the script for the first time, he was deeply shocked and moved. He expressed his hope that the movie and his role could serve as a platform to increase public awareness and encourage more support for marginalized individuals on the fringes of society.

Sun Chengjian, deputy head of the Movie and TV Series Research Institution at the Chinese National Academy of Arts, said that the film holds significance in prompting profound reflections on social issues, encouraging awareness and concern for current circumstances and emotional challenges faced by homeless youth and children.