“All My Life” centers on real-life couple, Jenn Carter and Solomon Chau, who wed under unthinkable circumstances. Stars Jessica Rothe and Harry Shum Jr. open up about honoring Chau’s legacy, and how the film has changed them for the better.
Costarring Chrissie Fit, Jay Pharaoh, Josh Brener, and Marielle Scott as the couple’s supportive friend group, All My Life is an all-too relatable story of hope, love, and loss. As Jenn Carter (Jessica Rothe) struggles with her fiancé Solomon Chau’s (Harry Shum Jr.) liver cancer diagnosis, their loved ones come together to raise over $52,000 for the couple to have the wedding of their dreams.
Jenn and Sol’s passion for one another shines brightly onscreen, thanks to Rothe and Shum Jr.’s heartfelt chemistry. “I was just so taken with the amazing love story that was portrayed, but also with what a powerful, strong, resilient, brave human Jenn Carter is and was during this time in her life, and the positivity that she and Sol tackled this period of adversity with,” Rothe explained. “It was just so inspiring to see their love and their connection because they truly were soulmates and lifelong friends. They were meant to be together, even though their time was cut short.”
A set visit from the real-life Jenn Carter also helped them both learn more about their off-screen inspirations.
“I think actually the biggest gift Jenn gave me…was she really encouraged me to make the character my own and to not feel beholden to doing some kind of impersonation or mimicking her,” Rothe continued. “As a result, I was able to show up on set every day and be incredibly present with Harry [Shum Jr.] and find our own beautiful version of this love story in all of its simplicity and complexity.”
Rothe and Shum Jr. worked together to honor both Jenn and Solomon’s ups and downs as a couple, while still putting their famed romance into perspective onscreen. “It was important for us, Jess and I, to sit there and work it through to figure out what we could bring to the table as individuals, as performers, while still honoring their story and their love that so many people even before this movie was made were affected by on a global scale,” Shum Jr. opened up. “Just seeing their wedding video and how people contributed selflessly to give them that special moment.”
As for what audiences might take away from All My Life this 2020 holiday season?
“It’s been a rough year in different ways for a lot of people,” Shum Jr. concluded. “I think [the film is] giving someone a different perspective of how this couple dealt with something like this, and I think that’s what’s needed right now: just to see some hope. For me, it was incredibly inspiring. I am a changed person just being a part of this film.”
“All My Life” is in theaters December 4, and available on demand December 23.