New Life

Plot Core: A Symbiotic Contract Between a Gig Economy Girl and a Stray Dog

Zhang Zifeng plays Zhao Xiaoman, who lives a drifting life doing odd jobs due to trauma from her family background, until a stray dog named "Tata" enters her world. Initially forced to take Tata in, their relationship evolves into a deep dependency, with Tata's companionship helping Xiaoman gradually open her heart and even rebuild her life through a part-time job as a pet groomer. However, when Tata faces a life-and-death decision due to health issues, Xiaoman must confront the weight of "goodbyes" and "commitments," ultimately proving through her actions that "taking care of her is not a momentary impulse, but a responsibility towards life."

Character Depth: The Silent Dialogue of the Lonely

Zhang Zifeng takes on the challenge of a character grounded in the "gig economy," portraying her transformation from a closed-off state curled up in a convenience store corner to a determined individual who runs around for Tata, illustrating the spiritual dilemmas faced by urban youth.
Wang Jingchun plays the director of a community pet hospital, embodying a "gentle demeanor beneath a serious exterior," becoming a key guide in Xiaoman and Tata's relationship. His line, "They chose you, so you must learn not to give up," deepens the theme.

Production Highlights and Social Concerns

Animal Issues: Director Dong Hongjie filmed on location at a "stray dog shelter," exposing abandonment issues, exemplified by a scene where Tata's previous owner abandons her due to moving, echoing the 2024 social incident of "pet shipping abuse."
Visual Style: The film employs a "contrast of warm and cool tones" in its narrative, with warm yellow lighting during Xiaoman and Tata's interactions contrasting with the cold blue tones of her past family memories, enhancing emotional shifts.

(This article is based on publicly released plot details and social themes from the production team; specific details are subject to the actual release version.)

Note:

The "end-of-life companionship" plot involving Tata draws from the narrative techniques of the Japanese film The Travelling Cat Chronicles, using the perspective of animals to reflect human growth.
Xiaoman's "gig life" setting mirrors the current employment situation of Chinese youth, with details about part-time jobs such as delivery workers and pet groomers sourced from the 2023 labor force survey report.