Private Project

Play House

Xiao Lin and Chuan Yu are lesbian lovers who work in the soft porn industry. One day, a man hires them to play as his wife and daughter. However, the relationship among the three gradually grows tense.

  • Xinyi Cao
    Director
  • Xinyi Cao
    Writer
    Drifted In Life, Chang'E
  • Lianlian Shen
    Producer
    Drifted In Life, Chang'E, Mask
  • Brielle Yuke Li
    Producer
    de closin night, Chang'E, Drifted In Life, The Fetus
  • Hanrui Zhang
    Producer
  • Qiao Nie
    Key Cast
  • Xiuyi Li
    Key Cast
  • Yikai Liu
    Key Cast
  • Huang Ji
    Editors
    The Foolish Bird, Egg and Stone
  • April Guangwei Du
    Editors
    Over the Sea; To Us, from Us; Sword of Destiny
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    过家家
  • Project Type:
    Student, Other
  • Genres:
    Drama, Queer, Cult, Thriller, Experimental
  • Runtime:
    26 minutes 24 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 3, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    25,000 CNY
  • Country of Origin:
    China
  • Country of Filming:
    China
  • Language:
    Mandarin Chinese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital,4K,Mavo LF
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Communication University of China
Director Biography - Xinyi Cao

Zoey Cao (Xinyi Cao), majoring in film & television photography and production at Communication University of China. She played the role of screenwriter for the feature film Drifted In Life, which entered the Lift-Off Global Network film festival. And she was the co-writer and director of cinematography of the feature drama Chang E, which entered the Italy LUCCA festival and the Brizail BC film festival. She directed and scripted the short films Devour, An abortion, and A backstage conversation. She has won the general champion of the selection of new literary talent by Shanghai Writers Association, the first prize in Shanghai Poetry Creation Competition.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

In the sex industry, there is no lack of role-playing and body renting, which makes me reflect on the boundary between truth and falsehood in our daily lives, and the impact left by the family of origin.
Xiao Lin and Chuan Yu are placed in the gap between truth and fiction in this family role-play. Sometimes they are themselves, sometimes they are forced to act like wife and daughter. Being torn apart, their original utopian relationship is eroded.
Through this 'playhouse', I hope we could question: is this patriarchal family happiness? Or, the boundary becomes blurry and non-significant nowadays?
In brief, I hope this short film could challenge some social construction with a feminism delivery. As long as we feel confused, even for a minute, that is a rebellion against things taken for granted.