Director on 'It's My Time': A story of Rubik's Cubes and never giving up

Acclaimed film director Bai Xue's new film "It's My Time" brings the real-life story of a retired teacher-turned-Rubik's Cube master to the big screen. Bai shared with China.org.cn where the idea for the film came from, and what makes it such an inspiring story.

A still from "It's My Time" featuring Michelle Yeoh as Zhao Yanhong. [Photo courtesy of Askwin]

Starring Michelle Yeoh and Liu Haoran, the film follows Zhao Yanhong, a 70-year-old woman. After meeting lazy genius Wu Youwei and making him her coach, she becomes hooked on the puzzle, stumbling into the competitive Rubik's Cube world supported by her mentor, best friend and family.

Bai explained that the idea for the film came from a news story about Zhao Wenying, a retired teacher from Zhejiang province who started playing the Rubik's Cube at an older age and broke records in her age group. "I was visiting director Wen Muye on set, and he told me about this news story. We both thought it was great," Bai said. "There's a contrast — the Rubik's Cube is something young people and kids play with, right? And here's someone much older who can do it so well. That's dramatic and fresh."

Zhao retired in 2013 and took up the Rubik's Cube the following year after her granddaughter sparked her interest. She started learning by watching videos, then found a teacher. In December 2019, she set a world record for the fastest blindfolded 3x3 solve by someone over 60. In March 2021, Zhao passed the professional Rubik's Cube B-level exam, which has a pass rate of only 3%, making her the oldest B-level Rubik's Cube player in the world.

Bai's previous film, "The Crossing," had a sharper, more tense tone. Asked if "It's My Time" marks a deliberate change, she said: "I want to be a professional director, so I'm curious about different genres and subjects. I want to challenge myself. The core hasn't changed — it's still about understanding people and making something that's compelling to watch."

The project began in late 2022, with about two years of script development, followed by one year of shooting and post-production.

Bai said Michelle Yeoh was the first choice for the lead role from the very beginning. "Wen Muye and I went to Hong Kong to meet her. After we told her the story, she really liked it," Bai said. "I think it fits her own spirit and personality — that never-give-up, resilient quality."

"She's very hardworking, and before filming, she went to markets and parks in Foshan to observe more about local elderly people," the director said.

While the film centers on an older character, Bai said she never thought of it as a film about older people. "We wanted to create a three-dimensional character, so I treated many of the scenes involving aging like a youth campus film."

In addition to interviewing Zhao Wenying, Bai spoke with many older women. "I wanted to put the strength and resilience of that generation of Chinese women into this character," she said. "I hope after watching the film, people think of their mothers, aunts, grandmothers. These women are tough and powerful, and they can inspire us."

Director Bai Xue. [Photo courtesy of Askwin]

Bai admitted that she initially knew little about competitive Rubik's Cube solving. "We interviewed more than 100 enthusiasts. I went to South Korea to watch the Rubik's WCA World Championship 2023, and I visited factories," she said. "I felt I had to have a real personal understanding, so I learned to solve it myself."

She added that the cast and crew also got involved. "Not just the actors, but the executive director, cinematographer and art department all learned to solve the cube. Everyone had a different experience with it." Liu Haoran and Yeoh both practiced constantly. "They all wanted to present the best version of characters."

Filming the Rubik's Cube competition scenes was particularly difficult. "Every scramble had to be consistent and not show any mistakes. That was really hard to control," Bai said. The most challenging scene was set in a TV studio, with a game format created by the screenwriters. "It's a math problem," Bai explained. "We had to calculate the speed of each move and the exact timing of every step — all of it. The instruction manual for that single scene was dozens of pages thick."

She said the goal was to give audiences a fresh visual and sensory experience. "In post-production, we worked on sound, music and visual design. All departments came together to create something no one has seen before in a Rubik's Cube film."

The director added, "A lot people might focus on the emotional parts of the movie — the tears and the laughter. But I think the competitive aspect is also a huge challenge and highlight."

"It's My Time" is in theaters across China from June 30.