Odyssey: a Chinese cinema season opened with the UK premiere of Tracy Dong’s fascinating fly-on-the-wall documentary Hard Love. The film follows five single women in five cities across China, all with differing perspectives on marriage and romance, up against old-fashioned societal norms and an uncertain modern world. China’s transformation into a global superpower over the past few decades has brought varying complexities to its social landscape and Dong’s film illustrates a country that is so wedded to traditional values of marriage and family it is at odds with a modernising and want-to-be progressive society.

The film is at its most potent when we see these women wrestling with these two conflicting ideologies, tradition and modernity. This conflict is particularly apparent with Mei, a woman approaching the ‘sell-by-date’ of 30-years-old and who is running out of time to meet the demands society has placed on her. Working in the finance sector in the heart of Beijing, speed dating and matchmaking offer potentially time-effective solutions to her pursuit of a suitable life partner but finding someone who ticks all the physical and financial boxes is not a simple task. 

A conversation with her brother, recently divorced, demonstrates a changing mentality among men towards obligated long-term commitments. He admits that he has adopted a more Westernised interpretation of love and marriage, where a soulful and personal connection takes priority over the materialistic value of wealth and status. Later in the film while at dinner, Mei’s dating partner cynically breaks down her idealistic views on marriage in what is a heartbreaking scene. Mei passionately defends her point of view, declaring her devotion to a future husband with unwavering loyalty and commitment, but is ultimately brought to tears, perhaps a concession that her earnest outlook on marriage as a life goal is not compatible with the contemporary climate she finds herself in.

“Men don’t chase women anymore” says a despondent grandparent who is clearly frustrated at the lack of interest in her granddaughter. They figure that men are no longer pursuing women with the same gusto as in yesteryear because there are too many distractions and other things to do – namely video games. The film highlights simpler times in terms of coupling as for older generations, it was a matter of finding someone to devote your love and your life to, and you stick by those principles for your entire life and work hard for that person and your commitment. 

Undoubtedly our times are more uncertain and fraught and all five women in this film carry a degree of numbness towards the pursuit of romance, to the point where they question the need for men in their lives entirely. Tao, a successful social media influencer and single mother, is more interested in hiring an actor to play the father figure than having a genuine love interest in her life. Is that a result of a lack of need or interest on her part, or have her circumstances exhausted her to the point where she lacks the will?

Hard Love poses some poignant questions about love and relationships in contemporary society and ultimately, whether the concept of marriage is fit for the modern age at all.