For the director, just like the other filmmakers in this project, it was her first visit to China. That is why she chose a kind of fairytale, since for her a fairytale has universal elements that bridge cultural differences.
The film is relatively improvised, occasionally using documentary techniques, yet it turns out to be an distinctive piece of fiction. The protagonist of the story is the nine-year-old boy Peng Lui Wei. He is the firefly. Luckily, this character was written for the real Peng Lui Wei, so he could play himself. The firefly was a kind of action hero who had to perform tasks and asked different people for advice. In this way, the crew could follow him to all nooks and crannies of the artist village Songzhuang, where the film was shot.
The filmmaker took advantage of the opportunity to experiment with several cameras, including the much-talked about Canon 5D, but also using old-fashioned 8mm material.
Also in this combined programme
-
The Trip
Visiting China for the first time, he became the most popular basketball player in the farmers’ and artists’ village of Songzhuang. The tall African. -
ZUT
An African joke packaged as a Chinese film. The actors were scouted on the streets and the makers have just graduated. Must have been fun… -
Li Xia’s Salon
There are African women and African women. Mthiyane is an African woman. In China, she went into a hairdresser’s and said: ‘Do something with my… -
Les Boulistes 11
A boss faces the strong spirit of one of his employees whom he harkens night and day. Episode from a series of twelve short African…
Film details
- Countries of production
- China, Uganda
- Year
- 2011
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2011
- Length
- 16'
- Medium/Format
- Betacam SP
