Guo Ran

In Li Dongmei’s chamber drama, a young couple live in a small apartment in the city. Through their brief exchanges and moments of solitude, it becomes clear that the couple’s relationship has edged towards a crisis – one that resonates as a reflection of contemporary Chinese society.

Li Dongmei’s chamber drama details the initially imperceptible disintegration of a young couple’s relationship at a pivotal moment in their lives. Young professionals, Yu and her boyfriend live in a small city apartment. She is in the early stages of pregnancy, while he is increasingly obsessed with his work, or any other distraction that avoids dealing with the state of their relationship. When Yu suffers a miscarriage, the physical and emotional challenges she faces reach beyond her, representing a wider cultural malaise.

The first half of the film comprises mostly interiors, which accentuates the claustrophobia felt by the couple. So much so that when they finally experience moments of life outside, whether it’s a park, a freshwater pond or even the roof of their apartment block, the world still remains too enclosed for them. Beautifully shot by Matthias Delvaux (Journey to the West, 2021 and Snow Leopard, 2023), writer-director Li Dongmei’s second feature is a potent exploration of female identity, contemporary relationships and mourning. 

– Vanja Kaludjercic

Interview

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