Director/ Screenwriter: Liu Shu

Director of Photography: Zheng Yi

Cast: Tan Zhuo, Luo Kang, Guo Zhongyu

Region: China

Year of Production: 2012

Running Time: 90min

China premiere

Film festival selections:

2012 International Venice Film Festival, International Film Critics Week

2012 Stockholm International Film Festival

Synopsis:

Xiao He is an independent-minded teacher working in a village in Northern China. To her, learning is possible only when it involves exploration and discovery – learning by rote is not an option. Xiao’s students love her classes, but her colleagues react badly to her rebellious attitude. Craving a less restricted life, Xiao leaves the school and moves to Beijing, where she hopes to engage her creative energy working as a journalist. Once again, Xiao’s strong opinions and love of self-expression gets her into trouble, and she finds herself working as a waitress to make a living. When a rich man falls in love with her, she is presented with a way out, but is loathe to sacrifice her freedom and integrity. When she decides to accept him anyway, a policeman who she had previously turned down tries to make her life very difficult. It’s time for choices: to suffer on, or to betray her ideals in order to change her lot.

Liu Shu was born in Jining, Shandong Province and is currently living in Beijing.