Private Project

Urban Village Romance

After her father's death, Zhou Lili's family plunged into poverty, forcing her and her mother to live in an urban village. The mother and daughter have always dreamed of escaping this place. Finally, Zhou's mother arranged a "good marriage" for Lili with Li Xiaogang, a serial internet entrepreneur living in a nearby luxurious apartment, owning a multimillion-dollar mansion.

Zhou Lili and Li Xiaogang quickly fell in love and started living together. However, life in the high-end apartment was far from happy...

In desperation, Zhou's mother introduced Lili to a "shaman." Through the shaman's spell, Li Xiaogang truly transformed overnight into the "perfect boyfriend!"

For the first time in her life, Zhou Lili experienced a sweet romance. However, awaiting her were unexpected and enormous challenges...

This film is a magical realism anti-genre piece, incorporating elements of alpha male romance.

  • Yizhi Chen
    Director
  • Yizhi Chen
    Writer
  • Yizhi Chen
    Producer
  • Tingting Wu
    Producer
  • Erchun Huang
    Key Cast
    "Lili Zhou"
    Sheng quan zai wo
  • Zhishuai Shen
    Key Cast
    "Xiaogang Li"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    围城中村
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    27 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    January 31, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 CNY
  • Country of Origin:
    Hong Kong
  • Country of Filming:
    China
  • Language:
    Mandarin Chinese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Hong Kong Baptist University
Director Biography - Yizhi Chen

Before diving into film creation, the director was a dedicated corporate worker in the internet industry. Currently, she's an active creator in the fields of film, literature, and translation. Passionate about exploring the relationship between female identity, humanity, and technocratic society, they focus on cyberpunk and dystopian themes, and are dedicated to exploring the localization of magical realism in China. With a deep appreciation for traditional Chinese culture, the director often integrates elements of folklore and myth into their work, creating a unique blend of modern and historical narratives.

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Director Statement

The film is centered around the everyday life in the urban villages (城中村) of Shenzhen. In this city, urban villages are often viewed as symbols of affluent middle-class life. However, they are simultaneously perceived as backward—a contrast to the surrounding modern skyscrapers. The residents within these villages are diverse: from idle youth to pampered mistresses, from busy yet aimless middle-aged men to housewives disheartened by mundane lives. There are also teenagers uncertain about their future, and street hooligans on motorcycles who think they're cool. They live in these urban villages while longing to escape.