An anthology exploring how the 2020 Wuhan pandemic tests family bonds, romantic love, and personal resilience through isolated vignettes.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Lockdown Descent
The 2020 Wuhan outbreak triggers immediate city-wide lockdowns, isolating families and separating loved ones. Shen Yue and Li Ju contract the virus simultaneously, forcing them into close quarters. Li Zhaohua becomes infected in Wuhan while Zhou Xiaolu remains stranded in Beijing.
Key Events
Wuhan Lockdown Begins — Pandemic strikes, triggering city-wide lockdowns. Characters: Shen Yue, Li Ju, Li Zhaohua, Zhou XiaoluLocation: Wuhan/Beijing
Shared illness amplifies pre-existing generational friction between Shen Yue and Li Ju. Strict quarantine protocols prevent Zhou Xiaolu from physically caring for Li Zhaohua. The characters must navigate daily survival while managing interpersonal strain.
Key Events
Generational Friction — Age-old tensions surface during illness. Characters: Shen Yue, Li JuLocation: Wuhan Residence
Li Zhaohua Infected — Young man contracts virus in Wuhan. Characters: Li ZhaohuaLocation: Wuhan Hospital
Zhou Xiaolu Stranded — Girlfriend unable to return due to lockdown. Characters: Zhou XiaoluLocation: Beijing Apartment
Video Call Routine — Couple maintains bond through daily calls. Characters: Li Zhaohua, Zhou XiaoluLocation: Remote/Beijing & Wuhan
Shared Quarantine Struggle — Navigating illness together tests patience. Characters: Shen Yue, Li JuLocation: Wuhan Residence
Distance & Connection
Digital communication becomes the primary lifeline for Li Zhaohua and Zhou Xiaolu as they maintain daily video calls. Shen Yue and Li Ju gradually shift from tension to pragmatic reliance on each other. The pandemic reality forces all characters to confront isolation.
Key Events
Shared Quarantine Struggle — Navigating illness together tests patience. Characters: Shen Yue, Li JuLocation: Wuhan Residence
Emotional Resilience — Companionship becomes a coping mechanism. Characters: Shen Yue, Li JuLocation: Wuhan Residence
Remote Support Network — Frequent calls sustain their relationship. Characters: Li Zhaohua, Zhou XiaoluLocation: Remote
Pandemic Reality Check — All characters confront isolation and fear. Characters: Shen Yue, Li Ju, Li Zhaohua, Zhou XiaoluLocation: Various Locations
Confinement stress peaks before characters begin adapting to their new circumstances. Family dynamics stabilize as mutual support replaces friction. Long-distance commitment endures through technological bridges, establishing a fragile but hopeful new normal.
Collective Survival — Characters adapt to new normal. Characters: Shen Yue, Li Ju, Li Zhaohua, Zhou XiaoluLocation: Wuhan/Beijing
Relationship Reassessment — Mother and daughter-in-law find balance. Characters: Shen Yue, Li JuLocation: Wuhan Residence
Hope Through Connection — Love endures across the divide. Characters: Li Zhaohua, Zhou XiaoluLocation: Remote
Story Breakdown
Pandemic Context — The initial outbreak triggers widespread lockdowns, establishing the restrictive environment that drives all character interactions.
City Lockdown — Strict movement restrictions isolate families and separate couples across cities.
Health Crisis — Rapid virus transmission forces multiple characters into simultaneous infection states.
In-Law Quarantine — Shen Yue and Li Ju navigate shared illness and confinement, revealing deep-seated familial friction.
Co-infection — Both characters contract the virus, eliminating external support networks.
Household Tension — Pre-existing generational differences surface under the pressure of forced proximity.
Long-Distance Love — Li Zhaohua and Zhou Xiaolu maintain their romantic bond despite geographic separation and travel bans.
Physical Separation — Lockdown protocols prevent Zhou Xiaolu from traveling to Wuhan to provide care.
Digital Connection — Daily video calls serve as the primary mechanism for emotional sustenance.
Emotional Resilience — Characters develop coping strategies to endure isolation, shifting from panic to adaptation.
Daily Struggle — Routine medical management and supply constraints test personal endurance.
Mutual Support — Shared hardship gradually transforms conflict into pragmatic cooperation.
Relationship Testing — External pressures and internal dynamics challenge the stability of all depicted bonds.
Adaptation Phase — The narrative resolves with characters establishing sustainable routines and renewed relational balance.
New Normal — Families adjust to restricted mobility and remote communication habits.
Bond Strengthening — Shared survival experiences foster deeper understanding and long-term commitment.
The background of "Hero" is set in 2020: a sudden disaster that disrupted everyone's lives. When society face unemployment when families fall apart, when lovers are separated, when death is approaching quietly, and when a peaceful life suddenly undergoes unexpected changes, how will women respond? What are the vital and irreplaceable roles that men play in women’s lives and growth? The three female directors Zhang Aijia, Li Shaohong and Chen Chong used their unique female perspectives to explore and show people's plights and struggles in family, career, and love in special times.
