Assimilation
Description
Bai Ye works in Shanghai, her boss, Liu Xun, sexually harasses her and Bai angrily chooses to quit her job. When her cousin Xu Lijin learns of the conflict, she kindly intercedes on Bai's behalf, but her self-initiated mediation makes Bai feel betrayed from her family.
Taking the opportunity of going back to her hometown to celebrate her grandfather's birthday, Bai Ye decides to go home for a while to take a break. However, she discovers that there are actually dark tides between her family members who are supposed to be close to each other. She realises, with a sense of loss, that home may not be a safe haven.
Director
Dazhang Wang
Dazhang Wang | Director
He holds a master's degree in Film and Television Creative Practice from the University of East Anglia, UK, and a second master's degree in Film Production from the London Film School. His short film “Have I Found You” was selected as one of the best short films at the Shanghai University Television Festival and won the Top 10 Short Films award at the Huichuang Youth (2017) competition. Another short film, “Childcare”, earned the Third Prize in the Sixth Safe ChinaMicro-video Competition. He is currently working on his first feature film script.
Director Statement
Influenced by traditional culture and social values, Chinese family relationships have developed a unique dynamic. However, today we see the new generation distancing themselves from their families and relatives. Rather than submitting like their elders, they prioritize their own feelings and personal growth, seeking to escape control and interference. We often hear voices saying, "I know my family loves me, but I still feel hurt." This suggests that home may no longer be a 'safe haven.' In this short film, we aim to depict the characteristics of an Eastern family through the protagonist’s perspective and pose a question to our audience: "Will we eventually be helplessly assimilated?"