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Brief History of a Family (家庭简史)

Ajyal Competition

Synopsis

In ‘Brief History of a Family’, director Jianjie Lin examines the delicate balance of familial relationships when a new, mysterious presence enters the fold. Wei, the outgoing only child of a middle-class family, forms an unexpected bond with his quiet classmate Shuo after an incident at school. Inviting Shuo into his home, Wei’s parents are immediately taken with the boy’s charm, maturity, and academic potential—qualities they had hoped to cultivate in their own son. As Shuo becomes a fixture in their home, long-buried emotions and unresolved family tensions begin to surface.

Shuo, whose troubled background contrasts sharply with Wei’s privileged upbringing, becomes the focus of the parents’ attention, subtly shifting the family dynamic. With every interaction, the family’s seemingly perfect life begins to unravel, revealing cracks in their relationships, unmet expectations, and unspoken desires. The film navigates these tensions with an eerie, slow-building intensity, as Shuo’s presence forces each family member to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves. ‘Brief History of a Family’ is a psychological drama that deftly explores the complexities of family life, identity, and the subtle power dynamics that shape interpersonal relationships.

About the Directors

Jianjie Lin is a Chinese filmmaker who began his career studying bioinformatics before transitioning into cinema. He holds an MFA in filmmaking from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Lin’s short films, including ‘A Visit’ (2015) and ‘Gu’ (2017), have been screened at international festivals. Brief History of a Family is his feature film debut, exploring themes of family, societal change, and psychological depth through a suspenseful narrative.

Credits

Director

Jianjie Lin

Screenwriter

Jianjie Lin

Producer

Lou Ying, Zheng Yue, Wang Yiwen (First Light Films) / Zhou Ping (Films du Milieu)

Co-Producer

Rikke Tambo Anderson (Tambo Films)

Cinematographer

Zhang Jiahao

Editor

Per K. Kirkegaard

Production Company

First Light Films

Production Designer

Xu Yao

Composer

Toke Brorson Odin

Cast

ZU Feng, GUO Keyu, SUN Xilin , LIN Muran

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