Big World, a film documenting the resilience of a young man with cerebral palsy that premiered in December 2024, was an instant box office hit. It grossed over 700 million RMB ($4.5 million USD), and received the Audience Award at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival.
Big World opens a window into the life of China’s disabled minority. It stars Jackson Yee (formerly a member of the TF Boys, who also starred in 2021’s Better Days) as Liu Chunhe, a recent high school graduate with cerebral palsy. We watch Chunhe struggle with his disability, dealing with discrimination and prejudice. The film also explores his complex and delicate family relationships, portraying a mother’s pain and sacrifice and a grandmother’s unconditional love.
In one scene, Chunhe’s grandma says, “He has cerebral palsy, [but] it doesn’t mean he’s an idiot.” This sentiment is woven through the entire movie. Despite the hardships encountered, we also follow Chunhe on a journey of self-discovery: applying for college, finding a job, writing poems, and chasing love.
In a behind-the-scenes documentary, director Yang Lina commented, “There are 80 million disabled people in China, but we seldom see them on the streets. Where have they gone? Did they make themselves invisible? Do they not want to go outside?” This explains the movie’s Chinese title, Small Me (小小的我). The film explores a group of small and unnoticed individuals in a big world.
Xiao Jia, a comedian with cerebral palsy, was invited to host Big World’s Shanghai premiere. Xiao Jia is a popular contestant from the standup comedy reality show Rock & Roast. He tells the audience, “I am one of the millions of Liu Chunhes, he gives me the courage to stand up here… Maybe Liu Chunhe’s arms and legs look wobbly, and you’re not used to seeing that. But I want to say…don’t we all go wobbling through life?”
After the movie’s release, the production team also released a short documentary following people with cerebral palsy in different professions: chefs, delivery drivers, dancers, poets, and full-time dads. The film especially resonated with people with disabilities, receiving praise for highlighting a rarely discussed side of China.
Big World also inspired people with cerebral palsy to share their stories on social media. One RedNote user posted, “Maybe you think our life is hard, but for us this is normal, this is our life… We don’t think it’s a hardship.” In other videos, RedNote users with cerebral palsy share their makeup routines, parenthood stories, cosplays, food recipes, dating vlogs, and much more.
Keep an eye out for Big World’s North American release — no release date as of now, but there’s a page for Big World on AMC’s site.
Cover image via Douban
