According to QQ, Diary of a Mad Old Man, starring Fan Bingbing, has yet to receive an official theatrical release and has only been screened at film festivals including Toronto, Busan and Tokyo. However, several clips have surfaced on social media, drawing criticism for portraying a relationship that crosses conventional moral boundaries.
Criticized as “almost like an adult film”
Fan Bingbing plays Satsuko, the daughter-in-law of a wealthy capitalist who becomes paralyzed. Utsugi, played by Lily Franky, suffers a cerebral hemorrhage and is left bedridden, with his daughter-in-law Satsuko caring for him and helping with his rehabilitation. Despite being physically incapacitated, he begins to view his young and attractive daughter-in-law as an object of desire.
He worships Satsuko’s feet and takes pleasure in touching and kissing them, even deriving satisfaction from her contempt and mistreatment of him. As his physical condition gradually improves, his suppressed desires resurface, and a distorted obsession develops as Satsuko continues to care for him.
The film uses restrained cinematography to portray the suppressed tension and ambiguous taboo relationship between the two characters. Although there are no explicit nude scenes, metaphorical imagery such as “eating feet” has also sparked controversy because the two characters are father-in-law and daughter-in-law.
The film attempts to depict the moral conflict and desire experienced by an elderly man in the final stage of his life. Utsugi sees his daughter-in-law as his last source of emotional support. The film is adapted from the novel of the same name by Japanese author Junichiro Tanizaki. The original novel itself generated considerable controversy for its depiction of distorted and disturbing psychology.
Some viewers have found it difficult to accept Fan Bingbing performing suggestive and seductive scenes opposite a much older male actor, particularly as her character’s father-in-law is over 70 in the film. On social media, some viewers argued that the film’s controversial exploration of desire appears designed primarily to appeal to certain film festivals, lacks humanistic value and is unlikely to receive a wide theatrical release.
Satsuko’s styling has also drawn criticism. The character is shown without a bra and wearing loose shirts, clothing choices that some viewers believe emphasize her sexuality even in the presence of her father-in-law. As a result, many have struggled to accept Fan Bingbing’s new role, with some even comparing the movie to an adult film.
“Fan Bingbing’s role in Diary of a Mad Old Man will turn people’s worldview upside down. There is not only a scene involving voyeurism while bathing, but also scenes that completely shatter her former goddess image,” one viewer commented. “This Fan Bingbing film is even bolder than Lost in Beijing back then,” another said, as many viewers described her decision to play Satsuko as an extremely daring career choice.
Fan Bingbing’s efforts to return to cinema
Alongside the criticism, some viewers have argued that Japanese cinema has long explored taboo human desires at their most private level, portraying the raw and darker sides of human nature.
Director Wayne Wang said that the film is about human connection, something he considers especially precious in today’s chaotic world.
The producers further explained that the rehabilitation stretching exercises shown in the film follow proper scientific standards, while the erotic perspective comes from the father-in-law’s subjective imagination. In other words, he transforms ordinary acts of caregiving into exaggerated sexual fantasies in his mind.
Recently, Fan Bingbing drew attention after sharing a moment from the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, where she received the Special Tribute Award.
Toronto International Film Festival CEO Cameron Bailey particularly praised her performance, saying that Helen Mirren and Fan Bingbing delivered bold and compelling performances at this year’s festival while continuing their iconic artistic legacies.
Fan Bingbing was effectively shut out of China’s entertainment industry in 2018 following a major financial scandal. She was found to have evaded taxes and was ordered to pay 883 million yuan (about $128 million) in taxes and penalties, after which her entertainment activities in China were severely curtailed.
Over the past eight years, Fan Bingbing has not given up on her career. She has actively participated in film projects across various countries and regions and was also invited by Malaysia to serve as a tourism ambassador.
In 2025, Fan Bingbing won Best Leading Actress at the Golden Horse Awards for Mother Bhumi. It marked her second Golden Horse honor after winning Best Supporting Actress in 2007 for The Matrimony. Fan Bingbing was not present at the ceremony, so director Chong Keat Aun called her from the stage. The actress burst into tears during their conversation.
Sources: k14