影
(OF SHADOWS)
‑ Chris Kennedy (TIFF Cinematheque)
“dreamlike and amusing, [...] the film reflects on the schizophrenia of contemporary China”
‑ Brigitte Duzan (Chinese Movies)
“with this feature debut, Cui shows a remarkable sense of contemplation, composure, and control in depicting her subjects’ struggle to keep abreast of social changes.”
‑ Clarence Tsui (Film Quarterly)
“full of imposing vitality”
‑ Ling Zhang (Ta Kung Pao)
“a thoughtful meditation on the evolution of an ancient art”
‑ Caotide (L’emergere Del Possibile)
“subtle and timeless”
‑ Mónica Delgado (DesistFilm)
“my favourite Chinese documentary of the year”
‑ Wood Lin (FunScreen)
Filmed in China’s Loess Plateau, where shadow plays have entertained people and deities for centuries, Of Shadows follows a lively and resilient group of shadow play performers as they navigate between the rural staging of ancient plays and the urban spectacle of cultural heritage preservation. While providing a rare glimpse into the nomadic lives of master puppeteers, the film paints a haunting portrait of a revered folk tradition transforming against the backdrop of a country in constant transition.
Awards and honours
2017 Jury Special Mention, Cinemistica Festival, Granada, Spain
2016 Libraries Award, Cinéma du Réel, Paris, France
Nominee, Joris Ivens Award, Cinéma du Réel, Paris, France
Nominee, Bright Future Award, International Film Festival Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Nominee, FIPRESCI Prize, International Film Festival Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Nominee, Netpac Award, International Film Festival Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Nominee, Chinese Documentary Award, Taiwan International Documentary Festival, Taiwan
Nominee, Best Canadian Documentary Award, Doxa Documentary Film Festival, Vancouver, Canada
Screenings (selected)
2018 Screening series “Scene as Universe”, Zarya Centre for Contemporary Art, Vladivostok, Russia
Ba Li Shan Independent Film Screening Series, Bishan, China
2017 Los Angeles Chinese Film Festival, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Festival of Film Festivals, Seoul, South Korea
Cinemistica Festival, Granada, Spain
Meet the Director - Independent Film Series, Hong Kong University, Hong Kong, China
2016 International Film Festival Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Cinéma du Réel Film Festival, Paris, France
The Free Screen, Toronto International Film Festival Cinematheque, Toronto, Canada
Doxa Documentary Film Festival, Vancouver, Canada
Taiwan International Documentary Festival, Taipei, Taiwan
Lima Independent International Film Festival, Lima, Peru
La Rochelle Chinese Film Festival, La Rochelle, France
Rennes Comptoir du Doc Film Festival, Rennes, France
Korean Educational Broadcasting System International Documentary Festival, Seoul, South Korea