Li Xia’s Salon
Li Xia's Salon
Omelga Mthiyane had little personal experience with the Chinese, and the Chinese she met in China had no experience whatsoever with Africans. However, before arriving in the country, she was convinced that this lack of acquaintance could be the starting point for her film.
Her idea was simple but effective. She would step into a hairdressing salon in China and ask if they could do her hair. Her African hair. She correctly thought that this would help break the ice with local people.
In this way, she got to know Li Xia, who owns a small hairdressing salon in Songzhuang, a village populated by farmers and artists, on the edge of Beijing. Li Xia turned out to be an artist too, using the salon to make ends meet financially. It was this other life that gained the interest of the filmmaker, and through Li Xia, other artists also put in an appearance.
Mthiyane worked with a small crew of recently-graduated local film students.
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. -
Fire Fly
An improvised mini-feature in which both everyday and mythical aspects of China are investigated. With a nice kid playing the lead. -
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… -
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, South Africa
- Year
- 2011
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2011
- Length
- 26'
- Medium/Format
- HDcam