Synopsis
This film follows a nihilistic son and his mother, who works at a pharmaceutical factory. They have lived together for years. One weekend, the mother insists on celebrating her birthday with a hiking trip, dragging her son along. They join a tour group, but tensions rise along the way.
As the son wanders off, he discovers a revelation in the woods, perceiving his world as a coded construct. Carrying his injured mother down the mountain, he begins to explore his own purpose and significance in the world.
Wei Bohan
WEI Bohan graduated from Chengdu University of Technology and studied further at the Beijing Film Academy. He directed the documentary CHASING WAVES in 2017. As a cinematographer, he worked on the short films RAINBOW MOUNTAIN, nominated at the China International New Media Short Film Festival, and OUR WILDERNESS, nominated for Best Documentary at the Chongqing Youth Film Exhibition and selected for multiple festivals. His short film PANORAMA SWIRL was featured in the Short Competition at the 46th Moscow International Film Festival.
Director's statement
We often feel the meaninglessness of ourselves and the world, doubting many so-called truths. Some friends succumb to simple pleasures and close themselves off, as if the only reason for living is the fear of dying. Recognizing our infinitesimal position in the macro world validates our existential speculations. What then? This revelation may not significantly impact our lives because we have been measuring our lives with the wrong standards. Realizing this might be the key to breaking free from nihilism.
In the macro world, a mother-son relationship overshadowed by life’s repetition may seem meaningless, but does it matter to them? Perhaps the concern they have for each other is more important, and that might be enough. As the son stands on the hill, what he sees might be the truth of the world, the mercy of God, or his mother’s tears.
