This is a story about 'the absence of love.' The film portrays three girls from different family backgrounds and upbringings, yet they share the same social identity—'left-behind children.' The film focuses on the psychological state and survival conditions of these children, who have grown up without familial affection. Using 'left-behind children,' a phenomenon born out of the era of reform and opening up, the story reflects the warmth and coldness of human relationships and the changes in society across various social strata in China during this era. The three girls are played by the same actress, creating a deeply Eastern portrait of contemporary Chinese society, with each seemingly independent character woven into a nuanced and atmospheric tableau.
Set in 2015, Robert's Letter follows an eighteen-year-old aspiring filmmaker who writes to his deceased father at sunset, reflecting on their cherished memories, personal struggles, and his determination to honor his father's legacy through his passion for storytelling
After his father’s rebuke for being too weak, Costis will set out to prove that he is the son he has always wanted. Will he succeed or will he cross the line, struggling to become someone else?
Sarah, 40, is a nurse at the Children’s Health Center in Halissa, a multi-ethnic and poverty neighborhood. For two years, Sarah tries to get pregnant. Her desire for a child is intertwined with the difficulties of a young mother until they reach an illusionary solution– the impossible gift of a baby.
On the Sunday after Mother’s Day in 1988, SHEN Yuan was alone at home and received a family letter from the other side that had been blocked for 40 years. The letter revealed that her mother had passed away long ago and that she had eagerly anticipated Yuanmei’s return every day. SHEN Yuan closed the curtains, pulled out a camphor wood box, and retrieved pieces of cheongsams she recalled occasionally. Singing, dancing, and chatting with her mother in spirit, she experienced moments of sadness and laughter.
A young mother faces challenges when her son fails to secure passing marks in mathematics, inciting events that test the family's resilience and unity.
Returning home to Corsica to see her brother and grieve a recent loss, a woman considers the consequences of her choices, in this uncommonly graceful short by Elisa Gilmour.
Facing the pressures to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards, a young Black ballerina finds a powerful source of pride and confidence, in Alicia K. Harris' inspiring and visually stunning short.
Powerful waves of grief threaten to shatter the confidence of a South Asian bodybuilder in this bold and insightful character study by director Ian Bawa.
As told by filmmaker Alexander Farah through a deftly composed array of small yet pivotal moments, a first-generation Afghan Canadian man takes steps toward establishing an identity of his own while always conscious of his father's shadow.
A young single mother faces a major challenge in her efforts to find herself a temporary bit of freedom in this engaging and empathetic drama by Mick Robertson and Margaret Rose.
Wael Shawky’s Drama 1882 (re)stages a colonial conflict laden with treason and exploitation as a libretto across eight chapters and 44 hypnotic minutes, invoking questions of colonialism, collaboration, resistance, narrative, history, and, of course, drama.
Junho brings up the story of Yeonju to his guest, Dongseok. He says he fell in love with her, at first sight because she was just like his ex-girlfriend, Sujeong, but she suddenly disappeared. Later, the police interrogated him that Yeonju had died near Junho’s bar. Dongseok reveals to Junho that Yeonju is his girlfriend and that today is the 49th day after her death(According to Buddhism, the dead can go to heaven on the 49th day). Eunyoung asks Junho about his most memorable moment at the bar. Junho brings up the story of Yeonju, and Eunyoung is surprised by the sad story. Meanwhile, Eunyoung says she is moving out and last goodbye to him. Junho feels regretful and realizes Yeonju is a fantasy and Eun-young is Yeonju.
Up bright and early with their pet in tow, Zohra Bouderbala and her five children are heading to the beach. This is not a drill! In Algiers, the coveted front row spot waits for no one, but it’s not this family’s first time having to beat the summer seaside crowds. The unmotivated and out-of-luck masses who arrive too late will be left to a viewless laze in the sun, the alleged horizon blocked by a fortress of parasols and flowing canopies.
In 2001, Lee Gyeong-hwan and his mother move from rural Yeongcheon to the city of Daegu to leave behind a broken marriage and hurtful rumours. Reticent and shy, he struggles to acclimatise but his seatmate happens to be Jae-min, the cool class president who takes Gyeong-hwan under his wing. While they quickly bond over a shared love of Japanese culture, particularly the music of Globe, Jae-min's affectionate and open attitude allows Gyeong-hwan to relax and reveal his feelings in a world where he must hide them.