Synopsis
This is a documentary film in which the author utilized various filming mediums such as DV, digital, mobile, film, and action cameras as visual carriers. The filming spanned over five years, and the author independently completed all productions. During the special period from 2019 to 2024, the author documented the plight and choices of his friend San, an affluent young man from Beijing, China, facing a series of intimate and tense emotional relationships, interpersonal relationships, and social events in life.
ZHANG Xinyang
ZHANG Xinyang is a multifaceted artist, serving as a director, screenwriter, photographer, and poet. His notable works include the film COLD WATER (in production), which was selected for the Financing Forum at the 14th FIRST International Film Festival. As a Director of Photography, his short films have received accolades such as the Best Short Film Special Mention Award at the Pusan International Film Festival and the Grand Jury Prize at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival. Additionally, he is the author of a poetry collection titled ISLANDERS.
Director's statement
This documentary film explores social issues and moral ethics through the protagonist, San, a wealthy young man at the top of the social pyramid. From 2019 to 2024, a period of significant social change in China, San’s life experiences reflect the contradictions within social stratification, influencing values, relationships, and life choices of the younger generation.
San symbolizes how rapid economic development and cultural transformation lead young people to grapple with spiritual emptiness, relationship alienation, and the reshaping of moral values while pursuing material success. Through San’s perspective, the film prompts reflection on our own positions and choices, encouraging a reevaluation of overlooked or taboo topics.
