Balloon

In an unfamiliar village, every evening as dusk sets in, two insurance vendors make their appearance. They offer insurance known as "Loneliness insurance." Since their arrival, there has been a steady influx of villagers purchasing this unique insurance package. Their clientele includes frustrated elderly village leaders facing the twilight of their lives, as well as bewildered young individuals trying to navigate life's complexities.

Word has it that whenever the weight of loneliness descends, these two insurance peddlers emerge as a remedy, with the simple acquisition of a balloon securing the insurance.

However, these days, the village finds itself grappling with an impending demolition, with the villagers soon to scatter. On this specific day, the two insurance agents arrive to connect with their clients before the looming exodus. Their frequent interactions with the villagers have granted them insights, revealing underlying challenges within the village that appear insurmountable to tackle.

  • Jiamin Zhou
    Director
  • Yang Song
    Director
  • Jiamin Zhou
    Writer
  • Yang Song
    Writer
  • Jiamin Zhou
    Producer
  • Haonan Chen
    Key Cast
  • Bingbing Song
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 34 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 30, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    5,634 CNY
  • Country of Origin:
    China
  • Country of Filming:
    China
  • Language:
    Chinese
  • Shooting Format:
    4k30p，Super35mm，ILCE-7M3
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Sichuan Fine Arts Institute
Director Biography - Jiamin Zhou, Yang Song

Jiamin Zhou, a student from the Photography Department of the Experimental Art College of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute.
Yang Song, a student from the Photography Department of the Experimental Art College of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The creation of this film is related to the changes in my body. Before creating this film, my body was in a process of molting. On a very accidental afternoon, I came to an unknown village where I saw many surreal landscapes, such as mottled walls with slogans left by people from previous eras, which were about longing for a better life. This village is being trampled by time, and modern sounds and landscapes are eroding it. This is like a balloon, with people constantly blowing air, and they don't know when the balloon will explode.