Christmas

Language：Mandarin, Putian Dialect with English Subtitles

冬冬的圣诞节/冬冬的聖誕節

Synopsis In a small fishing village in Fujian province, people have been fishing for generations and it seems to be their destiny to become fishermen from birth. The same is true for young Dong Dong, who reluctantly follows his father and learns how to become a proper fisherman. Longing for the Western world, Dong Dong yearns for a new pair of basketball shoes on Christmas Eve, but his father is unable to grant his wish. “What kind of Christmas do Chinese people have?” The cultural and generational clash relentlessly hits this single fisherman’s family. Under the double whammy of unforgiving reality and the glamorous ‘American Dream’, the fishing village boy chooses to disappear.

Director’s Statement At a time of globalisation, Western culture has deeply influenced the lives of Chinese teenagers. After the reform and opening up, influenced by consumerism, concepts such as the NBA, Christmas, Hollywood, fried chicken and Nike sneakers are present in the world of Chinese teenagers all the time. Although in reality, they may be far, far away from that world. However, in a closed, boring, day-to-day fishing town, the glorious ‘ideal country’ that Dong Dong imagines in his mind is within his reach. The details of his room and the ‘surreal’ environment his father encounters during his search for his son are a reflection of Dong Dong’s inner world.

Festivals & Awards

2021 Locarno Film Festival - International Short Film Competition