Private Project

Signifier & Signified

Conversations of intimacy, boundaries and some dog traning between a couple while awaiting the arrival of "disruption" to their trying open relationship.

  • Ao MA
    Director
  • Ao MA
    Writer
  • Camille Yangzi RAO
    Producer
  • Ximan MA
    Key Cast
    "Ximan"
  • Han ZENG
    Key Cast
    "The Director"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    语言的爱
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    30 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 28, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    400 CNY
  • Country of Origin:
    China
  • Country of Filming:
    China
  • Language:
    Mandarin Chinese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • FIRST International Film Festival
    Xining
    China
    July 26, 2023
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Beijing International Short Film Festival
    Beijing
    China
    November 24, 2023
    /
    /
  • The 5th NOWNESS China Short Film Awards
    Shanghai
    China
    December 20, 2023
    /
    /
Distribution Information
  • Dogme 23
    Distributor
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Ao MA

Since graduated from Beijing Film Academy in 2017, Ma has been focusing in independent filmmaking, music video production and commercials. Themes of symbolism and language, as well as emotions of the mind and physical surround his works, evolving into a habit of visual storying that emphasizes on the literary script and performance, always in search for an intricate structure of time and space in frames. To him, the root of honesty is the golden thread that weaves life and creativity.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The dialogues in this film center around an absent character, extend into a discussion on open relationship. The two main characters navigate themselves through the labyrinth of language, probing each other, advancing and retreating, yet also getting ensnared in a vortex of confusion. Through out the film, I avoided to answer the question "who came first"; instead, I aimed to guide the audience to break free from morality and prejudice, encouraging them to lay the focus on two characters who don't know how to define and express love.