The First Grade

Language: Mandarin, with English subtitles

一年级/一年級

UK Premiere

Synopsis After the outbreak of the pandemic, in-person counselling is shut down. For a family of medical practitioners, these changes create huge pressure - especially for the mother, who also has the mission of training her two children. When her daughter develops anxiety, the mother must choose how best to teach her child: should she be supported, or left to fight alone?

Director’s Statement A family of medical staff are at the centre of The First Grade, which records adjustments in domestic life after the pandemic. I wanted to both tell the story of a small family, and explore the wider consequences of social change.

Awards

2021 Macau International Short Film Festival (Student) Nominee