Promotional material of Lost in the Stars Photo: Courtesy of Maoyan

 
Domestic crime film Lost in the Stars surpassed 2.5 billion yuan in box office sales on Tuesday, rising to 23rd place in film history in the Chinese mainland, according to figures from the live tracker Beacon. The movie is based on a real case in which a pregnant woman was pushed off a cliff by her husband in Thailand, and it has sparked extensive discussion online. 

As the film continues to captivate audiences, the protagonist's real-life inspiration, Wang Nuanuan (pseudonym), has once again come into the public eye. According to Wang, she agreed to authorize the adaptation of her story into a movie in 2020.

On June 9, 2019, Wang, a three-month pregnant Chinese woman fell from a cliff approximately 34 meters high while visiting a park in Thailand with her husband. She was later discovered by a tourist and she survived after receiving medical treatment. It was revealed that her husband surnamed Yu, had pushed her off the cliff to claim insurance benefits, according to media reports.

Wang has been sharing updates on her social media platforms, detailing the process of their meeting and the progress of the case. According to her posts, she and her husband met at a gathering in Bangkok and quickly got married. It later emerged that the entire encounter was orchestrated by Yu because he learned she was rich and single. 

After they got married, Wang found that her husband had a gambling addiction and significant debts. In order to sustain their family, Wang constantly helped him repay his gambling debts of millions of yuan. But in April 2019, when Wang who was then pregnant refused to repay more debts, Yu purchased an insurance policy with himself as the beneficiary. On June 9, 2019, Yu took her to a park to watch the sunrise, saying "Go to hell" before pushing her off the cliff.

According to the videos Wang shared, her rescue would not have been possible without the help of the tourist from Thailand, the assistance of doctors and the active involvement of local police in investigating the case.

Following the release of the film, Wang posted her impressions on her Weibo account, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a clear mind when dealing with relationships. "Only through such clarity can individuals make the right choices and judgments to avoid harm," she said.

Many netizens expressed their support for her, with one stating, "I hope you have a lifetime of happiness and good luck." Some Weibo users stated that sometimes reality is more cruel than movies.

 
"The movie sends a message to all women: Do not try to change a man with flawed values and beliefs. When encountering someone with a poor character, it is crucial to cut ties with him promptly," a Weibo user wrote.

Ni Ni, one of the leading actors in the movie, said in an interview that the movie's value and effectiveness lie in enabling the viewers to know how to protect themselves.

Also starring Zhu Yilong and Wen Yongshan, it tells the story of Li Muzi (played by Wen), who mysteriously disappears during a trip. Li's husband, He Fei (played by Zhu), embarks on a desperate search to find her and gradually uncovers the truth with the assistance of renowned lawyer Chen Mai (played by Ni).

Released on June 22, the first day of the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, the movie has earned a 7/10 rating on the popular Chinese review site Douban as of Tuesday.