Comedy explores dark side of livestreaming

Following the success of Godspeed, a comedy hit during the 2023 May Day holiday, Yi Xiaoxing has made a strong return to the box office this season with his new directorial effort The Open Door.

A sharp satire exposing the pitfalls of the livestreaming industry, the film follows an internet celebrity who fakes a relationship with a grilled sausage vendor to conceal her romantic involvement with the company boss, a secret that could damage the firm's reputation.

As the staged romance unfolds, the pair unexpectedly develop genuine chemistry, but as the deception grows more tangled and their fame increases, they uncover darker truths behind their success and must decide whether to expose the corrupt corporate scheming behind the scenes.

During the film's premiere in Beijing on April 26, Yi explained that he had researched many controversies in the livestreaming industry, and had drawn inspiration from real-life events. He expressed the hope that the film would spark broader societal reflection on this rapidly growing sector while encouraging audiences to remain authentic.

The film will officially go on national release on May 1.