Audiences fall for arresting whodunit

Sandra finds herself accused of murdering her husband, spurred by several suspicious pieces of evidence and a recording of a heated argument the day before Samuel's death. A year later, during the trial, the couple's marriage is scrutinized, exposing harsh and intimate truths.

For many Chinese fans, the appeal of the movie, which has already obtained a high score of 8.6 points out of 10 on the popular review aggregator Douban, lies in its ability to provoke in-depth discussion about gender inequality and stereotypes toward women, according to Beijing-based film critic Yuan Yun'er.

During the couple's argument, Samuel criticizes Sandra for not fulfilling her responsibilities as a mother and wife, which he believes has left him trapped, educating and spending all his time with Daniel, forcing him to set aside his own dream of becoming a writer. Sandra angrily argues that his difficulties in time management and writing efficiency breed insecurity, prompting him to unjustly point fingers at her.

Dai Jinhua, a film scholar and professor at Peking University, describes the reversal of traditional roles for women and men, as demonstrated in the argument, as a very poignant point.