The North
Twenty years later, a daughter tells her mother about recurring dreams, only to find that her mother has been dreaming the same.
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Yinan WangDirector
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Yinan WangWriter
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Chujie CaoProducer
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Yaning WangKey Cast
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Lianfeng NingKey Cast
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Xiuzhi LiuKey Cast
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Project Type:Short, Student
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Genres:Documentary
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Runtime:11 minutes 8 seconds
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Completion Date:October 10, 2024
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Production Budget:0 CNY
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Country of Origin:China
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Country of Filming:China
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Language:Mandarin Chinese
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:4:3
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:Yes - Duke Kunshan University
Yinan Wang, born in 2004 in Kunshan, Jiangsu, is currently studying film and documentary production at Duke Kunshan University. Throughout his studies, he has directed and produced several short films, demonstrating both his passion for filmmaking and his talent for visual storytelling. His short film The Dance won Best Student Film at the Shanghai 48-Hour Film Festival, and his documentary project Lost in Art earned the Gold Award at China’s College Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition.
Yinan’s filmmaking blends the authenticity of documentary with poetic storytelling. Through a delicate visual language, he captures subtle emotions and the textures of everyday life, crafting narratives that feel both tranquil and profound. Influenced by masters like Tarkovsky, Yinan uses non-linear storytelling and deliberate, rhythmic camera movements to explore the intersections of time and space.
Since the reform era, rapid urbanisation and technological advances have distanced people from the land, diminishing its cultural significance. In the past, China’s traditional customs, close-knit communities, and deep-rooted values were closely tied to the land. With ancestral roots in the north but having grown up in the south, I carry a deep nostalgia for northern landscapes. The North explores the multi-generational bond with the land, offering perspectives across three generations to reflect on where we come from.
In a time of rapid change, our connection to the land serves as both a reminder of our past and a guide for the future. Shot on DV in a 4:3 aspect ratio, the film seeks to evoke a sense of tradition and revive shared memories of people and place. It also delves into the delicate interplay between documentation and memory, using footage from three generations to connect past and present—resisting the passage of time and preserving cultural heritage.