International Premiere
A feel-good story with a sociological bent, All Ears is the kind of drama that triggers introspective journeys and three-hour conversations. Wen Shan (Hu Ge, The Wild Goose Lake), a failed screenwriter still in love with telling stories, finds a position writing obituaries. The job goes beyond merely finding a narrative. Wen must spin people’s flaws into virtues, deal with contrasting and fragmented testimonies, and find coherence where there is none. A compassionate listener, Wen aims to give meaning to the lives of the deceased, a thankless and often misunderstood task. Writing obituaries helps him get over his own hang ups and build a richer life than the one he thought he wanted.
While the subject of death can be a heavy load for a film, writer-director Jiayin Liu (Oxhide I and II) approaches it with a lightness of touch and sense of humor that allows her to delve into darker territory, much like her documentary work. There are no narrative shenanigans, twists, or complex antiheroes to be found. Just a compelling story warmly told.
Best Actor, Shanghai Film Festival 2023
Media Partner
HU Ge
China
2023
Panorama
In Mandarin with English subtitles
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Credits
Executive Producer
Cao Baoping
Producer
Mao Chuxiao, Liang Tongyu
Screenwriter
Liu Jiayin
Cinematography
Zhou Wencao
Editor
Yan Yiping
Original Music
Hank Lee
Director
Liu Jiayin
Writer-director Liu Jiayin, a Beijing Film Academy (BFA) graduate and current Associate Professor in Screenwriting, is known for her unique cinematic style and thematic focus in China’s independent filmmaking. Her auteur films Oxhide and Oxhide II have been screened in many international film festivals, including Berlin International Film Festival, and have been widely acclaimed by film critics as well as audiences.
Filmography: Oxhide (2005); Oxhide II (2009)
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