Experiencing Interruptions?

A Year Apart

Huilin confides in a Guan Gong statue daily, sharing life's ups and downs. However, over-fertilization leads to the withering of her cherished grapevine. With her husband's recent passing, his approaching birthday, and subtle life changes, she stands at a pivotal moment.

  • Ocean Chin
    Director
    Chin Ocean, a director and cinematographer, pursued his graduate studies at FAMU in the Czech Republic. In 2018, he was selected for the 10th Golden Horse Film Academy. In 2022, he was chosen as one of the top ten directors in the Falcon Project Short Film Season. He has previously worked as a director of photography on feature films such as "Moonlight Warrior" and "Happiness of Iberia," as well as short films like "Mosquito Patch" and "Cease Susurration." A Year Apart” is Chin’s fi rst directing work, which won the “Best Film Award” at 86358 Jia’s Film Week, be selected i n International Competition program in 52nd Molodist KIFF.
  • Yasmin Wang
    Director
    Co-director
  • Ocean Chin
    Writer
  • Yong Liao
    Producer
    Liao Yong (also known as "NiBa"), an independent filmmaker, has achieved remarkable success with his films. "GAGALAND" has been selected as a finalist for the Golden Tiger Award in the main competition at the 2023 Rotterdam International Film Festival. Additionally, his film "This Woman" received recognition at the 2023 Real Film Festival in Switzerland, winning the Zonta Women Filmmakers Award and the Jury Prize in the Scorching Light International Competition.
  • Yasmin Wang
    Producer
    This Woman
  • HuiLin Wang
    Key Cast
    "HuiLin Wang"
  • Ocean Chin
    Cinematography
  • Yasmin Wang
    Co-director
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Fiction film, Female
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 15 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 1, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    9,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    China
  • Country of Filming:
    China
  • Language:
    Chinese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • 7th 86358 Jia's Village Film Week
    ShanXi
    China
    August 27, 2023
    China Premiere
    Best Film Award
  • 52nd Molodist KIFF
    Kyiv
    Ukraine
    October 21, 2023
    international short film competition
  • 5th Nowness Official Selection
    Shang Hai
    China
    December 15, 2023
  • Beijing International Short Film Festival
    Beijing
    China
    December 2, 2023
    N/A
    Chinese Competition
  • London short film festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    January 22, 2024
    China Wave
  • Singapore Chinese Film Festival
    Singapore
    Singapore
    April 28, 2024
    South Asia Premiere
    Chinese Shorts Section
  • Taipei Film Festival
    Taipei
    Taiwan
    June 21, 2024
    Taiwan Premiere
    Best Short Film Nominee
  • Chinese Film Festival Hamburg
    Hamburg
    Germany
    May 8, 2024
    Germany Premiere
    Special Mention Award
  • International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala
    Kerala
    India
    June 26, 2024
    India Premiere
  • Nepal Film Festival
    Kathmandu
    Nepal
    March 23, 2025
    Nepal Premiere
  • Mulan International Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    July 20, 2024
    North America Premiere
    Best Short Film Nominee
Distribution Information
  • Lantern Spirit Films Ltd.
    Distributor
    Country: China
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Ocean Chin, Yasmin Wang

Chin Ocean, a director and cinematographer, pursued his graduate studies at FAMU in the Czech Republic. In 2018, he was selected for the 10th Golden Horse Film Academy. In 2022, he was chosen as one of the top ten directors in the Falcon Project Short Film Season. He has previously worked as a director of photography on feature films such as "Moonlight Warrior" and "Happiness of Iberia," as well as short films like "Mosquito Patch" and "Cease Susurration."

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This film revolves around the life of a widowed, retired woman living alone. It doesn't rely on dramatic twists or intense emotions, but rather presents slices of everyday life and a non-religious statue of Guan Gong. As the most important people and events in her life gradually disappear, she finds herself in self-imposed exile. It's not until she rediscovers herself that this uncharted period of her life, marked by the disappearance of the Guan Gong statue, comes to an end.

The film draws inspiration from my own mother's life, while also reflecting aspects of my own experiences. Like many East Asian women, my mother transitioned from being a daughter to a wife and then a mother, moving from one family to another. The theme of her life revolved around her father, husband, son, and even the Guan Gong statue. It's only in her later years that she finally found her own space and experienced the belated sense of freedom. This newfound freedom was so unfamiliar that it caught her off guard. Embracing a new life centered on her own needs, with a mix of guilt and sorrow, she finally allowed a glimmer of suppressed self to grow.

Regrettably, it was only in my mother's later years that I saw her true self emerge. Her vitality, strength, and courage inspired my creative work.