Richard Trombly

In the late 1980's Shanghai, a 16 year-old boy, Xiaoli, comes of age surrounded by his neighbors and grandfather. His best friend is a girl named Lanmi, a couple years older than him. But Lanmi slowly drifts away from him, lured by the new opportunities which come as China opens up to foreign goods and businessmen. At the same time, the 1989 events force Xiaoli to grow up and to let go of his teenage dreams.

Juzo Onigawara's ego is bigger than any other director's - and on the set of his latest film he is a rage storm incarnate, sweeping down everything and everyone: bottomless humiliation and physical violence in response to pretty much everything his crew does seem to effortlessly compensate for his lack of talent. But the real escalation sets in when he orders a young actress to his flat for evening "private lessons".

This film presents a vivid depiction of modern Shanghai seen through the eyes of 9-year-old Peipei Wang. Following her mother's sudden death, she and her brother are forced to rely on each other. In traditional China, family is central but modern life is changing the culture. This film explores the meaning of family when these children must care for each other since the loving support they have known is disrupted. Emotions intensify when father is late from work one day and can't be reached by phone. Peipei grasps the reality of their situation - without their father, they are entirely alone in the world. The children's intense emotions involve us and draw us in throughout this short film and leads to a surprising ending.