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Dying to Survive

Play trailer 1:42 Poster for Dying to Survive 2019 1h 57m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
A Chinese leukemia patient smuggles cheap but untested pharmaceuticals from India to help hundreds of Chinese people suffering from cancer.
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Dying to Survive

Critics Reviews

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Richard Kuipers Variety 08/16/2019
Though it could have done with tighter editing in several scenes that linger too long after getting their messages across, "Survive" earns the tears many viewers will have shed... Go to Full Review
Simon Abrams RogerEbert.com 08/09/2019
2/4
I'd have an easier time accepting the trite, asked-and-answered conclusions that director Muye Wen and co-writers Jianu Han and Wei Zhong lead viewers to if they were more adept at tugging at viewers' heart-strings. Go to Full Review
Deborah Young The Hollywood Reporter 05/31/2019
Wen and his co-writers Han Jianv and Zhong Wei... use humor to sweeten the pill of tragedy, and so enroll much bigger audiences than with a straight melodrama. Go to Full Review
Jarrod Walker FILMINK (Australia) 11/18/2019
15/20
...vitality and humanity, coupled with a universally engaging premise... Go to Full Review
Ken Eisner Georgia Straight 09/19/2019
Dying is still remarkable for frankly addressing a serious issue from the ground up. Go to Full Review
Grant Watson VCinema 05/02/2019
9/10
It is a comedy that invites laughter. It is a drama that inspires sorrow. It is a political statement that provokes rage. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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ziyuan l @RT72292348 02/16/2025 "Dying to Survive," directed by Wen Muye and starring Xu Zheng, tells the moving story of how an ordinary businessman, Cheng Yong (Xu Zheng), transforms from a "nobody" who smuggles cheap cancer drugs from India to a "medicine god." Set in China, Cheng Yong, unable to pay the high cost of cancer drugs, starts smuggling cheap generic drugs from India to save his sick father and his business. With the development of the plot, his interaction with the patients gradually changed, from initial indifference to deep care and eventually became a "life-saving medicine god" for many poor patients. The film belongs to the realistic genre, similar to Dangal, which is based on true stories and focuses on the struggle and growth of people at the bottom of society. The film's plot is full of tension, and the transformation of Cheng Yong's character is deeply felt. From selfish and greedy in the beginning, to selfless dedication in the end, Xu Zheng vividly shows this change through his superb acting, especially in the deep friendship he develops with fellow cancer patient Lu Benefi (Wang Chuanjun), which embodies the deep emotional bond in the film. Through this relationship, the film not only presents the growth of individuals but also reflects the indifference and ruthlessness of society towards vulnerable groups. The film cleverly shows the complexity of human nature through the promotion of the plot and the relationship between characters, especially in the face of the conflict between life and death and morality, every decision made by Cheng Yong is full of difficulties and helplessness. In terms of film technology, the film creates a simple and real atmosphere through the use of natural light and the arrangement of real scenes, so that the audience can deeply feel the inner struggle of the characters and the oppression of the outside world. The film's editing is tight and fluid, finding the right balance between emotional climax and bland moments. Especially in the tense drug smuggling scene and the tender father and son farewell, the film the control of rhythm, so that each emotional node can maximize the audience. As for the soundtrack, the use of music in the whole film is also very good, the rhythm is accelerated when the tension is high, and it becomes soft and soothing when the warmth is warm, which is closely combined with the emotional changes of the film, and enhances the emotional resonance of the audience. The film's social commentary is also profound, especially when it reveals the injustices and high drug prices in China's medical system, showing the great plight of the people at the bottom. Cheng Yong helped countless patients to live longer by smuggling drugs, but his own "illegal" behaviour also triggered social reflection on morality and law. Through Cheng Yong's transformation, the film explores the good and evil of human nature, presenting a complex and contradictory moral issue. In the gray area of law and morality, Cheng Yong chose what he thought was "right", a choice that, while controversial, shows the courage and tenacity of human nature. Overall, Dying to Survive is an emotional and socially meaningful film that not only shows how a small man can become a hero in a difficult situation but also provokes a deep reflection on social justice, morality and legal boundaries. The film is certainly worth watching, especially for viewers concerned with social justice and medical injustice, and it is not only a film but also a social documentary worthy of reflection. It is highly recommended for anyone who wants to draw strength and thought from the film. See more 10/03/2020 A real blockbuster!! See more Dan F @RT17229360 06/17/2020 A gripping and funny movie about expensive drugs See more 05/30/2020 What a Chinese movie will get the attention of the western world? This is the truth of such patented drug inc selling cancer drugs with extreme high price for profit. Also hollywood had such kind of movies before. See more Zijin 08/10/2019 Dying to survive... dying to survive! See more yuhe s 08/10/2019 Watched Chinese version, very impressive, great stories, what is right and what is wrong? See more Read all reviews
Dying to Survive

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Movie Info

Synopsis A Chinese leukemia patient smuggles cheap but untested pharmaceuticals from India to help hundreds of Chinese people suffering from cancer.
Director
Muye Wen
Screenwriter
Muye Wen, Jianv Han, Wei Zhong
Distributor
China Lion Film Distribution
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
Chinese
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 9, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 19, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.2K
Runtime
1h 57m
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