Li Jixian

Authentic and subtly-written coming-of-age story set against the end of the dark 1970s. A dominant mother, a taciturn father, an elder brother who won’t shape up and the little brother who won’t take sides. Then a beautiful girl comes to live across the road from distant Beijing. (IFFR.com)

The peace of summer life in a village in south-western China is disrupted by the arrival of a film crew which is seeking someone to play the lead in their film. Twelve-year-old Shouxian is excited by the goings-on and constantly hangs around the filmmakers. When he finds out that they're looking for a boy just his age to play the lead, he willingly does all he can to get the part.