13th(2011)
LI Fangfang
Synopsis
There are three little children who have to face the same question at a very young age, which is as follows: is there forever love in this world or it never exists just as there is no pure white? These three similar yet different souls depend on each other, trying to answer the very first question with each of their lives. Although they are young, they have experienced many harsh events such as the SARS epidemic in 2003.
Program Note
This is the feature debut of LI Fangfang, who caused a stir as a 16-year-old genius writer. It is the story of Shen, a girl who goes through the major events in China from 1992 to 2008. Shen, Ming Yuan, and Chen mo depend on each other but hide their true feelings after they grow up because they are afraid they would hurt each other again. The director balances the codes of a film about youth and a melodramatic film to carefully lay out the scars of her generation. Elements such as reformation and open policy China in the early 1990s, the return of Hong Kong, China being confirmed in 2001 to host the Olympics, the death of Leslie CHEUNG, the fear of SARS, and the hosting of the 2008 Olympics are presented as period landmarks but are neither stressed nor dismissed. The director only uses them as metaphors to illustrate the feelings that the characters have. The self-deprecation of post modern youth who dream of nostalgia without origin in changing China can be seen in Shen and Ming Yuan who search for something that does not change. The film is reminiscent of recent melodramas from Taiwan Comrades: Almost a Love Story and Summer Palace. (BAE Ju-yeon)
Synopsis
There are three little children who have to face the same question at a very young age, which is as follows: is there forever love in this world or it never exists just as there is no pure white? These three similar yet different souls depend on each other, trying to answer the very first question with each of their lives. Although they are young, they have experienced many harsh events such as the SARS epidemic in 2003.
Program Note
This is the feature debut of LI Fangfang, who caused a stir as a 16-year-old genius writer. It is the story of Shen, a girl who goes through the major events in China from 1992 to 2008. Shen, Ming Yuan, and Chen mo depend on each other but hide their true feelings after they grow up because they are afraid they would hurt each other again. The director balances the codes of a film about youth and a melodramatic film to carefully lay out the scars of her generation. Elements such as reformation and open policy China in the early 1990s, the return of Hong Kong, China being confirmed in 2001 to host the Olympics, the death of Leslie CHEUNG, the fear of SARS, and the hosting of the 2008 Olympics are presented as period landmarks but are neither stressed nor dismissed. The director only uses them as metaphors to illustrate the feelings that the characters have. The self-deprecation of post modern youth who dream of nostalgia without origin in changing China can be seen in Shen and Ming Yuan who search for something that does not change. The film is reminiscent of recent melodramas from Taiwan Comrades: Almost a Love Story and Summer Palace. (BAE Ju-yeon)
LI FangfangLI Fangfang
LI Fangfang published her first book No Tears at 17 at the age of 16. Next year, she adapted this book to a 10-episode TV series, which won many awards in China. Later she was admitted to the Tisch School of Art in New York University to study directing. Heaven Eternal, Earth Everlasting is her first feature film.