Private Project

Returning Home

The prosperity of the new era led to the gradual decline of the cause that Old Li had dedicated his life to protecting. He was willing to sacrifice his life for it, but fate seemed to play a cruel joke on him.

  • Bowen Qiu
    Director
  • Ruizihui Cheng
    Producer
  • Haozhe Pang
    Cinematographer
  • Jiaheng Li
    Sound Mixer
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Society
  • Runtime:
    26 minutes 16 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 1, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    30,000 CNY
  • Country of Origin:
    China
  • Country of Filming:
    China
  • Language:
    Chinese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Guangxi Arts University
Director Biography - Bowen Qiu

Bowen Qiu grew up in Xinxiang, Henan Province, China, and is currently studying Media at Guangxi Arts University. Influenced by the narrative style of director Jia Zhangke, he has developed a keen interest in observing social and cultural issues in everyday life. This interest is reflected in his screenwriting, where he incorporates elements of his hometown into his storytelling. Like Jia Zhangke, Bowen excels at exploring contemporary societal problems and delving into the hearts of the people. His dream is to, like Jia Zhangke, share his stories with a wider audience and build his career as a director.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

During the Chinese New Year when I returned to my hometown, I noticed that my entire family was using smartphones for entertainment. However, my grandfather could only entertain himself by listening to Yu Opera on the radio. Years ago, I watched Jia Zhangke’s Mountains May Depart with my father, and I was captivated by Jia’s storytelling, sparking my love for cinema. Drawing from my observations during my visit, I crafted a story based on my grandfather’s experiences, reflecting on the times, which became Returning Home. When casting the film, I realised that the opera troupe in my script closely resembled my grandfather’s Yu Opera troupe. After interacting with the members, I decided to use real actors to tell the authentic story. At the end of filming, the actor playing Old Li almost cried, thanking me for capturing his real life. At that moment, I truly understood the saying, “Art comes from life.” This short film gave me the opportunity to record the genuine situation of my hometown.