The Wife Is a Superstar 2

Chapter 289 - Dead When Awake, Alive When Asleep

After the film finished playing on the big screen, there wasn't a dry eye in the theatre. "Strong Yet Broken" was, in simple terms, a very depressing movie.

From the beginning to the end, a great sense of desolation permeated the entire film. Despite its almost unbearable atmosphere, the viewers could still feel the hope weaved seamlessly within the agony.

This kept them engaged and emotionally invested for the whole duration of the movie. The background music in every scene only intensified their already high-strung emotional states. Even when it ended in a tragic manner, it was still a form of release and relief from all of the anguish. A good portion of the audience wailed loudly during the ending, as the theme song "Phantom of Your Love" played.

Everyone needed some time to get a hold of themselves. Their emotions were so intense that they could almost touch and taste them in the air like a big viscous cloud floating all over them.

When they calmed down enough, the film's production crew and cast gathered at the front facing all of the viewers. Of course, Jennie was included in the line-up. They all spoke one by one, talking about their experiences working for the film and thanking everyone for coming to watch.

The premiere night successfully ended. Jennie, JJ and the others headed to the private after-party celebration. It wasn't lavish. Just a simple buffet meal in a private room at a restaurant. Tears of happiness were shed as everyone reminisced about their memories working together.

During the party, Guan Jintao's wife led him to speak to Jennie. Jennie greeted the sports legend with great respect. After learning about his life story, she admired him not only for his accomplishments as an athlete but also as a person. He was truly inspiring, even more so because of his disability.

"Miss Kim, I want to thank you for your contribution in bringing my mother's story to life," Guan Jintao told Jennie. "To tell you the truth, I was unhappy at first when I discovered that people wanted to make a film based on my mother's life. I felt that creating this film would only disturb her eternal rest because it would reopen painful memories. However, when the producer sent me the theme song 'Phantom of Your Love' and some of the music from the film score, I swear I felt my mother's presence again. At that moment, I knew that this film isn't a disturbance to her eternal rest but a respectful memorial to the life she lived instead. So thank you for bringing back a piece of my mother with your music."

Even though Guan Jintao had his eyes closed as he talked to her, Jennie felt like he could see her and everything around him. There was a sharpness and intensity in his invisible gaze.

"Sir Guan, please, it's an honour," she replied. "Thank you for giving us your blessings for this film. Your mother was a very strong woman. Despite her tragic fate, I'm sure that she'll inspire a lot of people like me through this film."

"Indeed. Just like the film title, my mother was strong yet broken at the same time. Although the end she chose causes me pain for as long as I live, she's the strongest woman that I know. Her broken strength will forever live through this film."

The night drew to a close. Everyone in the after-party went home with a giddy feeling of accomplishment for completing the film they had worked on for so long.

However, they all knew that this wasn't the end. It was just the beginning.

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Although the films released around this time were fewer than during the summer season, "Strong Yet Broken" still had plenty of competition. There were other indie and less popular films, not to mention the highly popular big budget films that drew most of the moviegoers.

The competition at the cinemas were extremely fierce.

Compared to the big budget films, the line ups for "Strong Yet Broken" were pitiful. Their opening day and week was just a drop in the ocean compared to the massive crowds the big films were drawing in.