Tear-jerker sheds light on hearing-impaired community

For three years, director Sha Mo traveled to multiple cities across China to interview people with hearing impairments to gather inspiration for his film Mumu.

Recently released during Qingming Festival, the tear-jerker has garnered acclaim, earning a 7.0 out of 10 ranking on the popular review platform Douban.

Starring actor Zhang Yixing as a man with hearing loss, the film begins with the protagonist living a joyful life with his 7-year-old daughter, who acts as a bridge to the hearing world as she helps him navigate daily life. However, a criminal gang preying on the hearing-impaired community targets the man, luring him into a dangerous web of crime as he desperately tries to protect his young daughter and secure her future.

At the film's premiere in Beijing earlier this month, Sha revealed that nearly 30 people with hearing impairments were invited to be part of the cast.

Zhang said: "They were all like my teacher. I learned something from each of them — how to control the speed of my movements and express myself through sign language."

As of Tuesday, the film has grossed over 76 million yuan ($10.4 million) at the box office, the second-highest-grossing film on the country's single-day box office charts for two consecutive days, according to live tracer Beacon.