Synopsis
Just as XU Man moves into their new home, she finds herself pregnant. This exacerbates her already uneasy marriage life, making it even more difficult to navigate. The fear of childbirth and the lack of understanding from her husband escalate into irreconcilable conflicts. XU Man decides not to have the baby and keeps it a secret from her suddenly visiting mother-in-law.
SEAN
Sean graduated from ESRA in France and currently works as an independent film director.
Director's statement
During the COVID lockdown in China, the issue of the distribution of rights within household spaces was revisited and magnified. The ways in which family members consider, discuss, and allocate these rights made me reflect on the invisible sources of such distribution. Over several months of collaborative writing, the image of XU Man gradually took shape amidst communication and collision. We attempted to conceal her social identity, focusing instead on her family identity as a pregnant wife. The film aims to explore how, during pregnancy, women’s ownership of their bodies and household spaces is neglected, suppressed and deprived.
