Experiencing Interruptions?

Save, Life

In a small coastal city, Lynn (22), a girl who lives in solitude, and she usually feel anxious about her life. She tries to maintain her love for life by recording with a camera and enjoys her lunch time at the beach to face her insecurities. When she knows Hei, a 50-year-old alcoholic artist who often drinks alone at the beach, they form an unusual relationship. Lynn makes him bento lunches and they eat together at noon day by day, bento narrows the distance between them. As their relationship heated up, Hei discovers Lynn's falling into degradation. Facing the different attitudes towards life between them, Hei encourages her as a friend and gives Lynn his painting to express his gratitude.

  • Yanting Feng
    Director
  • Yanting Feng
    Writer
  • Aiwen Lin
    Producer
  • Huan Hu
    Director of Photography
  • Weiyun Zhao
    Editor and Colorist
  • Xinyun Zheng
    Designer
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 29 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 13, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    4,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    Chinese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, FX30 SONY 4k
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - The University Of Sydney
Director Biography - Yanting Feng

Yanting Feng, also known as Franty, is currently an emerging filmmaker based in Sydney.

Franty was born in a city in southern China and completed her undergraduate degree in Sichuan University of Media and Communication in 2019. During undergraduate period, she participated in film related activities, such as Sichuan TV International Festival, the Academy Event broadcast. Meanwhile, worked in the Film Production Studio of SUMC as a camera assistant. It was good experiences for she constantly optimized skills, accumulated and improved the aesthetics of cinema.

In the final year of undergraduate studies, Franty completed her first directed work, short film INFINITE (2019). Then 2022, She is majoring Master of Moving Image at the University of Sydney, and she directed the short films named DORA (2022), and one experimental short film WHO’s KILLING HER (2022).

She is currently developing on her graduate works SAVE, LIFE, and she will continue to devote the creation of film themes about the exploration of human nature.

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Director Statement

SAVE, LIFE is a heartwarming drama, this short film tells the story of Lynn, a girl who faces loneliness and anxiety in life but still chooses to embrace it wholeheartedly. Through Bento, she builts an unusual friendship with Hei.

I firmly believe that each individual is inherently unique, shaped by a combination of their familial background and personal life experiences. It is crucial for people to cultivate a deep understanding of their own inner thoughts and emotions. Starting from my own experience, I have faced some setbacks that required self-healing, also I have crossed paths with individuals who may appear dissimilar on the surface but possess a resonance with me. These encounters serve as reminders that there is much to be gained from exploring the depths of one's being and embracing the connections that transcend surface-level disparities.

About the design and selection of characters and scenes.
Lynn is defined by two key traits: fortitude and kindness. While her love for life is evident, there are also some intriguing contradictions that reveal certain aspects lacking in her persona. Lynn prefers to keep the lights dimmed in her home, she likes red roses with thorns, and she also has a black goldfish, these hint at an internal friction and layered personality of her.
Hei, as a taciturn painter, seems to live outside the world. He doesn't have too many dialogues to explain himself. For Lynn's behavior and words, detailed facial expressions and movements express his character. Hei looks timid and indifferent, but he is a man with inner fullness.
Lunchtime holds a special significance for Lynn and Hei, while the serene blue hues of the sea create a tranquil and leisurely ambiance, providing the perfect backdrop for their deep conversations.

The essence of SAVE, LIFE is soothing and positive energy, but, it also reflects the pressure of life and the fleeting friendship. In the busy social life, people are frequently obsessed with the pressure of survival, while ignoring the meaning of truly enjoying life. However, slowing down, and taking time to experience life is a way of self-salvation. Moreover, friendships in life often come and go, while they may teach us valuable lessons and revelations. What SAVE, LIFE explores, is a positive attitude towards life, a friendship of mutual help, encouragement, and redemption.