# Soul Mate (2016 film)

Soul Mate is a 2016 Chinese romantic drama film directed by Derek Tsang, based on the novel of the same name by Anni Baobei. It stars Zhou Dongyu and Ma Sichun. The film was released in China on 14 September 2016.

## Plot

Thirty year-old working woman Li Ansheng's life in Shanghai is suddenly disrupted by the publication of a novel, entitled "Qiyue and Ansheng", a chronicle of her friendship with Qi Yue during her youth. Coupled with an accidental encounter with Su Jia Ming, a past love, her long repressed memories are unleashed with the force of a tsunami. The two girls seemed destined to become friends from the moment they entered high school. Though they were inseparable and believed that their bond would last for the rest of their lives, the cruelty of youth eventually led them to separate paths. Even more shocking is the discovery of a long buried secret shared by the women - a secret that serves as an emblem of their youth and the proof of their friendship.

## Cast

* Zhou Dongyu as Li Ansheng
* Ma Sichun as Lin Qiyue
* Toby Lee as Su Jiaming

## Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 100% based on 9 reviews.
Edmund Lee of South China Morning Post commended the film for transcending its potentially cloying premise to tell a story of friendship and love that’s at once melancholy and very emotional. Both Zhou and Ma were credited for the film's success with their skillful displays of raw emotion.
Soul Mate received 7 nominations at the annual Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards in 2016, and made history with a joint Best Actress win.

## Accolades

| Awards | Category | Nominee | Results |
| 53rd Golden Horse Film Awards | Best Director | Derek Tsang | Nominated |
| 53rd Golden Horse Film Awards | Best Actress | Zhou Dongyu | Won |
| 53rd Golden Horse Film Awards | Best Actress | Sandra Ma | Won |
| 53rd Golden Horse Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Lam Wing Sum, Li Yuan, Xu Yi-meng, Wu Nan | Nominated |
| 53rd Golden Horse Film Awards | Best Makeup & Costume Design | Dora Ng | Nominated |
| 53rd Golden Horse Film Awards | Best Original Film Song | "(It’s Not A Crime) It’s Just What We Do" | Nominated |
| 12th Chinese American Film Festival | Golden Angel Award Film | | Won |
| 23rd Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award | Best Actress | Zhou Dongyu | Won |
| 23rd Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award | Films of Merit | Soul Mate | Won |
| 11th Asian Film Awards | Best Director | Derek Tsang | Nominated |
| 11th Asian Film Awards | Best Actress | Zhou Dongyu | Nominated |
| 36th Hong Kong Film Award | Best Film | | Nominated |
| 36th Hong Kong Film Award | Best Director | Derek Tsang | Nominated |
| 36th Hong Kong Film Award | Best Actress | Zhou Dongyu | Nominated |
| 36th Hong Kong Film Award | Best Actress | Sandra Ma | Nominated |
| 36th Hong Kong Film Award | Best Screenplay | Lam Wing-sum, Li Yuan, Xu Yi-meng, Wu Nan | Nominated |
| 36th Hong Kong Film Award | Best Cinematography | Jake Pollock, Jing-Ping Yu | Nominated |
| 36th Hong Kong Film Award | Best Editing | Derek Hui, Li Dianshi, Zhou Xiaolin, Tan Xiang-Yuan | Nominated |
| 36th Hong Kong Film Award | Best Art Direction | Zhai Tao | Nominated |
| 36th Hong Kong Film Award | Best Costume Make Up Design | Dora Ng | Nominated |
| 36th Hong Kong Film Award | Best Original Film Score | Peter Kam, Yusuke Hatano | Won |
| 36th Hong Kong Film Award | Best Original Film Song | "(It’s Not A Crime) It’s Just What We Do" | Nominated |
| 36th Hong Kong Film Award | Best New Director | Derek Tsang | Nominated |
| 1st Malaysia International Film Festival | Best Film | | Nominated |
| 1st Malaysia International Film Festival | Best Actress | Zhou Dongyu | Nominated |
| 1st Malaysia International Film Festival | Best Screenplay | Lam Wing-sum, Li Yuan, Xu Yi-meng, Wu Nan | Nominated |
| 1st Malaysia International Film Festival | Best Cinematography | Jake Pollock, Fisher Yu | Nominated |
| 8th China Film Director's Guild Awards | Best Film | | Nominated |
| 8th China Film Director's Guild Awards | Best Actress | Zhou Dongyu | Nominated |
| 8th China Film Director's Guild Awards | Best Actress | Sandra Ma | Nominated |
| 8th China Film Director's Guild Awards | Best Screenwriter | Lam Wing-sum, Li Yuan, Xu Yi-meng, Wu Nan | Nominated |
| 8th China Film Director's Guild Awards | Best Hong Kong / Taiwan Director | Derek Tsang | Won |
| Osaka Asian Film Festival 2017 | ABC Award | Soul Mate | Won |
| 24th Beijing College Student Film Festival | Best Film | Soul Mate | Nominated |
| 24th Beijing College Student Film Festival | Best Screenplay | Lam Wing-sum, Li Yuan, Xu Yi-meng, Wu Nan | Won |
| 24th Beijing College Student Film Festival | Best Actress | Zhou Dongyu | Nominated |
| 24th Beijing College Student Film Festival | Best Actress | Sandra Ma | Nominated |
| 31st Golden Rooster Awards | Best Picture | | Nominated |
| 31st Golden Rooster Awards | Best Actress | Zhou Dongyu | Nominated |
| 31st Golden Rooster Awards | Best Directorial Debut | Derek Tsang | Nominated |
| 31st Golden Rooster Awards | Best Editing | Derek Hui, Li Dianshi, Zhou Xiaolin, Tan Xiang-Yuan | Nominated |
| 17th Chinese Film Media Awards | Best Actress | Zhou Dongyu | Nominated |
| 17th Chinese Film Media Awards | Best Actress | Sandra Ma | Nominated |
| 17th Chinese Film Media Awards | Best Screenwriter | Lam Wing-sum, Li Yuan, Xu Yi-meng, Wu Nan | Nominated |
| 2nd Golden Screen Awards | Best Director | Derek Tsang | Won |
| 2nd Golden Screen Awards | Best Actress | Zhou Dongyu | Won |
| 2nd Golden Screen Awards | Best Actress | Ma Sichun | Won |
| 2nd Golden Screen Awards | Best Screenplay | Lam Wing-sum, Li Yuan, Xu Yi-meng, Wu Nan | Won |
| 34th Hundred Flowers Awards | Best Picture | Soul Mate | Nominated |
| 34th Hundred Flowers Awards | Best Director | Derek Tsang | Nominated |
| 34th Hundred Flowers Awards | Best Writing | Lam Wing-sum, Li Yuan, Xu Yi-meng, Wu Nan | Won |
| 34th Hundred Flowers Awards | Best Actress | Ma Sichun | Nominated |
| 34th Hundred Flowers Awards | Best Actress | Zhou Dongyu | Nominated |
| 34th Hundred Flowers Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Li Haofang | Nominated |
| 34th Hundred Flowers Awards | Best Newcomer | Li Chengbin | Nominated |