Global Pitch
Whispers in May
CHEN Dongnan
- China
- 90min
- DCP
- color
Synopsis
The film takes us on a poignant journey alongside 14-year-old Qinghua, whose first menstruation sets a quest for self-discovery in motion. In the Yi ethnic traditions of Liangshan Mountain in China's southwest, this milestone demands a new skirt for the girl’s menarche ceremony, which signifies her transition into adulthood and the looming possibility of an arranged marriage soon to come. However, with her parents working in faraway cities and the recent loss of her beloved grandfather, Qinghua finds herself "homeless" and conceals her menstruation as a secret, relying on her two closest friends for support in finding the skirt she needs. Whispers in May is a hybrid documentary based on real people and real situations, yet embraces spontaneity as the filmmaker and the subjects embark on an improvisational road trip, which merges reality and imagination to capture the complexities of adolescence, cultural traditions and the enduring power of friendship admits challenging circumstances as Qinghua bids farewell to her girlhood.Director's Statement
Due to the request of concerning parties, the referring materials will not be opened.
Director
-
CHEN Dongnan
Credit
- Producer지아 자오 Jia ZHAO
케이 쉬 Kay XU