The Dissolution of Mirroring and the Reconstruction of the Self: A Study of Mirror Writing in the Film Xiaoyan and Wu Aili

Abstract

The film Xiaoyan and Wu Aili constructs multiple layers of parallelism across narrative structure, character configuration, and audiovisual expression through a dense deployment of mirror writing, which functions as a key mechanism for the production of textual meaning in both creation and reception. This study argues that the relational structure embedded in mirroring generates a compelling textual complexity, while localized dislocations within these mirror structures disrupt audience expectations. At the same time, character-based mirroring carries and refracts the protagonist’s traumatic memory. Through these three interrelated functions, the film subtly and restrainedly deconstructs themes such as patriarchy, morality, and trauma, thereby demonstrating a distinctive depth of thematic exploration and artistic expression.