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Ash Valley

When animals near a state-run oil field begin to exhibit bizarre symptoms, a fearless veterinarian embarks on a mission to uncover the cause and confront the oil refinery's towering authority.

  • Shu Zhu
    Director
  • Shu Zhu
    Writer
  • G Wilson
    Writer
  • Sultan Pirzhan
    Producer
  • Albina Imashova
    Key Cast
  • Turganbubu Boobekova
    Key Cast
  • Railya Talaeva
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    Thriller, drama
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 14 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 31, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Kyrgyzstan
  • Language:
    Russian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Shu Zhu

Shu is a graduate from American Film Institute’s MFA Directing Program. With a special interest on rebellious expressions regarding intersectional identities, Shu has created works that have been showcased at prestigious festivals and institutions around the world, such as Telluride Film Festival, Chinese Young Generation Film Forum, National Museum of Art in Mexico, National Film Archive of India, Jia Zhangke Art Center, among others. As a first generation Chinese Canadian immigrant, Shu aspires to amplify unique AAPI voices and stories through representation behind and in front of screen.

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Director Statement

The decaying streets of Daqing oilfields, where I spent my childhood, serve as the inspiration for 'Ash Valley'. This city, once pulsating with life and promise, now bears the weight of its own rapid decline, a poignant metaphor for countless industrial hubs worldwide. It's a deeply personal story for me, watching my home, the bedrock of my family's history, grapple with the decay born from its own success.

With 'Ash Valley', I aim to encapsulate the broader narrative of places left behind in the unforgiving march of progress. The mysterious affliction that plagues the animals becomes an allegory for the suffering endured by people trapped in stifling authoritarian regimes, a silent scream echoing through the vast landscapes of my homeland. In crafting this story, the parallels to the stringent pandemic measures and the suffocating grasp of unchecked authority aren't mere creative licenses; they're lived experiences, piercing reminders of the prices paid for unchecked power.

Through the eyes of our brave veterinarian, audiences will delve into a world where the lines between the environmental, political, and deeply personal blur. Here, the looming oil refinery isn't just an industrial behemoth; it represents the overshadowing might of patriarchal values, exploitative traditions, and an inescapable past. But amidst this decay, there's hope, a whisper of rebirth and renewal.

This short film is not just an exploration of environmentalism and authoritarianism but a love letter to my hometown, to places and people overshadowed by time and progress. It’s a call to remember, reflect, and most importantly, to reimagine a world where decay can lead to resurgence.