En/中文                                

Is There a Pine
on the Mountain│山中无树


by Chongyan LIU

38 mins │France│2022




When the mother of filmmaker Chongyan Liu’s boyfriend comes from China to stay with the couple in their small Parisian apartment, it gradually becomes clear where his violence comes from. Initially, Liu films the quarrels in the cramped kitchen, with what appears to be a hidden camera; the faces are blurred. Reproaches about petty annoyances fly back and forth,
until the arguments become bitterly serious.

After that, the conversations in the house are accompanied by still lifes of the rooms, images of household items that have been broken, and scenes with intimate close-ups of the (now ex-)boyfriend’s body. Off screen, mother and son take turns talking about their difficult and toxic relationship, revealing that domestic violence is passed on from one generation to the next.


Year of production 2022
Length 38'
Country France│UK
Shooting 2K, Digital
Aspect Ratio 16:9
Dialogue Chinese

Director Chongyan LIU
Producer Thomas MOORE
Production Company Another Image Production
Cinematographer Chongyan LIU
Editor Chongyan LIU
Sound Design Erik MOORE





Festival Selections

Kansas City Underground Film Festival 2022, USAFilm Diary NYC 2022, USA:
IDFA - International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam 2022, The Netherlands

Beijing International Short Film Festival 2022, China
HiShorts! Film Festival 2022, China
Odyssey: a Chinese cinema season 2023, UK
Mulan International Film Festival 2023, Canada
Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival 2023, Indonesia:
Alula Film Festival (DC Chinese Film Festival) 2023, USA (Best Documentary Short Award)
Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival 2023, Nepal



More about artist ︎
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