Watch Dying to Survive

Dying to Survive is a 2018 Chinese drama film directed by Wen Muye, and starring Zheng Xu as the protagonist, Lu Yong, a small-time drug dealer who becomes an unlicensed importer of a generic cancer drug from India for Chinese patients. The film is based on a real-life story of a Chinese man who helped thousands of patients in China access cheaper, but very effective medicine.

The plot takes place in China, where cancer patients are struggling to afford the expensive imported drugs they need. The protagonist Lu Yong himself is a smoker and a drinker and has no belief in humanity beyond the boundaries of the benefits it can bring, until he meets a leukemia patient, a mother seeking a life-saving treatment for her son which, she can't afford. Lu starts smuggling an Indian generic brand of leukemia medication across the Chinese border to save the young leukemia patient and to make a considerable profit himself. The demand soon grows, and he starts helping more patients to get the drug, thereby becoming a kind of saviour for the cancer patients in China.

As Lu's business grows, he meets a group of people suffering from various diseases, who are either unable to get the right treatment or are financially incapable of affording them. In a country where traditional medicine is often the only and misinformation about medicine is rampant, patients believe Lu's drugs to be extremely effective, and he soon becomes an important figure to them.

However, the influx of a drug meant for the illegal treatment of cancer patients from India, predictably, eventually attracts the attention of the Chinese authorities, who believe that the cancer drugs smuggled by Lu are not approved, and he is selling fake and harmful drugs to the patients. The attention of the authorities brings Lu's business empire under scrutiny, hauling him before the law, which threatens to shut his business down and incarcerate him for several years. Determined to free himself and save his business, Lu is forced to struggle through the bureaucracy and exploitation of the Chinese justice system to prove the efficacy of the drug and the legitimacy of his business. Along the way, he is aided by the patients he has helped, a lawyer, and his young driver. Will he be successful in proving his intentions and his business' legitimacy to the people of China?

The film is powerful because it highlights the struggles that ordinary people in China fight against in accessing needed medication, pharmaceutical giants, and the corruption prevalent throughout the Chinese healthcare system. It looks at the Chinese people's growing mistrust in their healthcare system, which is portrayed as self-serving and indifferent to the medical needs of ordinary people. The film's characters are relatable, with Lu being the most complex and interesting character in the story.

Through his plight, the film offers insight into the corruption, bureaucracy and need for reform throughout the Chinese healthcare system. This heartfelt and heartwarming film tells a story of triumph against all odds, of how one man's compassion for the sick brought him to come face-to-face with the law and of how he fought to defend something he believed in. The film offers a compelling and touching examination of contemporary Chinese society and the challenges of modern Chinese healthcare. The performances of the cast are impressive, with Zheng Xu delivering a convincing performance as Lu Yong.

Overall, Dying to Survive is an emotionally charged film that explores themes of love, compassion, and the human spirit. It is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys gripping and thought-provoking cinema.

Dying to Survive is a 2018 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 57 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8 and a MetaScore of 63.