Best of the Fest: Audience Award Narrative - 'Full Circle'
Award Winners Showcase
Yang Zhang ('Full Circle') / Ahd ('Sanctity') / Feature Narrative / N/A / 141 min / Unknown / Unknown
Unknown
Rated: Parental guidance is advised for viewers under the age of 13. Individuals under the age of 13 are not admitted into cinemas unless accompanied by an individual aged 18 or older.
Synopsis
'Full Circle'
Abandoned by their offspring, stripped of their independence and suffering from amnesia, dementia, illness, failing bodies and the general indignity of old age, the elderly residents of the Guanshan nursing home remain boisterous and maintain their good spirits against all odds. When they decide to put together a performance so they can appear on ‘Super Skit’, a TV talent contest, the irrepressible septuagenarians refuse to let anything stand in their way – not their selfish children, not their kindly but no-nonsense chief nurse, and certainly not a road trip by decommissioned city bus through Mongolia to Tianjin. Infectious energy and warm humour permeate this moving and highly entertaining story of camaraderie, determination and the healing of old wounds. Director Zhang Yang has looked at the relationship between parents and their grown children in previous films; here, the old folks fight back – and we’re on their side all the way.
'Sanctity' (precedes 'Full Circle')
Areej, a pregnant, young Saudi widow, will endure anything to protect her unborn child. A bold story about going against social customs, and trying to establish a friendship between men and women in a community that insists on gender segregation.
Credits
- Director
- Yang Zhang ('Full Circle') / Ahd ('Sanctity')