The One

Core Plot: The dual pull between a silent world and musical dreams

Seventeen-year-old Yu Yan (played by Zhang Jingyi) grows up in her family's fish shop, with her father Yu Zhijian (played by Chen Minghao), mother Zhou Lin (played by Jiang Qinqin), and brother Yu Zhou (played by Xin Yunlai) all being hearing-impaired. As the only one who can communicate with the outside world, she has taken on the role of translator from a young age, handling everything from health inspections to resolving family disputes (like the famous sign language argument over a leaking fridge). These everyday details highlight the warm yet realistic survival of a hearing-impaired family.

The plot takes a turn when Yu Yan discovers her musical talent and aspires to apply to the Beijing Conservatory of Music, facing her family's concerns—her father wants her to stay home to help the family, while her mother, due to her own auditory trauma, has mixed feelings about music. A courtroom incident becomes pivotal: when her father faces discrimination due to his hearing impairment, Yu Yan realizes the necessity of her "bridge" role and temporarily gives up her dreams. Ultimately, with encouragement from teachers and support from her family (like her father buying her a new piano and the family attending her music performance), she learns to balance responsibility and self-fulfillment.

Character Depth: A family portrait interpreted through sign language

Yu Yan (Zhang Jingyi): Uses simplified sign language as a communication medium, delicately portraying the dual pressures of being "needed" and "restricted." Scenes of her shopping alone in the rain and practicing late at night highlight her internal struggles.

Yu Zhijian (Chen Minghao): A father full of street wisdom, expressing emotions through exaggerated gestures; his gaze at the piano keys when buying one is hailed as "the peak of silent paternal love."

Zhou Lin (Jiang Qinqin): Her gentle signing flows like southern streams, hiding past traumas of self-inflicted hearing loss; her final conversation with her daughter on a bench becomes an emotional climax.

Yu Zhou (Xin Yunlai): A warm-hearted hearing-impaired brother immersed in family love, he practices speaking to communicate with his crush, showcasing the inspiring side of overcoming limitations.

Production Highlights: Sign language design and musical metaphors

The crew invited a sign language instruction team to tailor expression styles for the characters: the father's assertive sign language, the mother's graceful gestures, and the brother's internet slang gestures (like "no 'teeth' followers") enhance character differences. Music elements permeate the film—Yu Yan's composition "Ten Thousand Words" symbolizes family bonds, while scenes of family "silent performances" (shaking hammers, pressing silent piano keys) visually highlight the artistic perception of the hearing-impaired.

Social Resonance: Real family issues evoke empathy

The pre-released "sign language arguments" segment vividly showcases communication patterns in hearing-impaired families, with over 5 million views on Douyin. At preview screenings, audiences reacted strongly to scenes like "sending off with a yellow plastic bag" and "the mother's auditory secret," with short reviews on Douban describing it as "not mentioning love, yet deeply affectionate." The psychology community has further discussed themes of "survivor's guilt" and intergenerational responsibilities.

Release Information and Further Highlights

Platform Collaboration: The official release includes family daily life photo sets and behind-the-scenes footage of "Yu's Fish Shop," covered in a special report by NetEase News.

In-depth Recommendations: For those interested in "deaf culture," focus on the details of sign language design; for fans of "musical narratives," pay attention to the interplay of electronic piano and environmental sound effects.

Historical Connection: The courtroom rights struggle in the film is based on real cases from the Chinese hearing-impaired community.

"The One" reinterprets a classic IP with delicate touches, not only giving voice to the hearing-impaired but also addressing the contemporary youth's quest for self-discovery. As director Wang Mu stated, "This film is a love letter to the 'bridge generation'—those young people navigating between family and dreams, who will ultimately find their voices in love."