Directed by
Jean-François Lesage
Language
Mandarin
Produced by
Jean-François Lesage
98 min, Documentary, Canada, 2024
In a mysterious forest, far from the borders of the China they’ve left behind, the painter Meng Huang and writer Ma Jian talk about exile, political opposition and artistic creation as a response to oppression and lies. Ma Jian lives in London. He is a dissident and a prominent writer translated into numerous languages. Since 2011, he has been unable to return to China, where all of his books are banned. Meng Huang is a renowned painter who lives in Berlin.
Synopsis
A mysterious forest in early fall echoes with birdsong and the sound of a river. Fallen leaves speckle gold on the blue stones. Two weary travellers make their way on foot – the painter Meng Huang and writer Ma Jian. When, as if after a long journey, they finally reach a cabin, they eat and drink, but the mood is not one of contentment. Their gaze is dark, haunted by memories of the China they have fled: persecution, resistance and the treatment meted out to those who fight for human rights. With the forest arousing painful thoughts and existential considerations, they talk about art. For the two artists, whose world view has been upended by the Tiananmen Square massacre, creation offers an answer to oppression and lies.
Crew
Writing : Jean-François Lesage
Cinematography : Etienne Roussy
Sound recording : Marie-Andrée Cormier
Production design : Caroline Alder
Editing : Mathieu Bouchard-Malo, Ariane Pétel-Despots
Sound design : Marie-Pierre Grenier
Sound mix : Bernard Gariepy Strobl
Color grading : Sylvain Cossette
Jean-François Lesage
After studying law, Jean-François Lesage began his career as a journalist for Radio-Canada television in Alberta and British Columbia. In 1998, shaken by the discovery of Chinese cinema, he headed to Beijing, where he was to spend six years. This is where he directed his first creative documentary, Sweet Nights Sour Nights (2004). He followed this up with How Can You Tell if the Little Fish Are Happy? (2009) co-directed with his brother Philippe Lesage. Back in Montréal, he then made A Mile End Tale (2013), the closing film at Visions du Réel 2014, followed by A Summer Love (2015), winner of the Grand Prize for Best Canadian Feature at the RIDM. The Hidden River (2017), his fourth feature, won the Special Jury Prize (Canadian feature) at the RIDM. In 2020, his feature Prayer for a Lost Mitten won Best Canadian Documentary at Hot Docs. His most recent documentary feature is Among Mountains and Streams (2024).
Filmography
AMONG MOUNTAINSAND STREAMS, 98 min, Documentary, 2024
PRAYOR FOR A LOST MITTEN, 79 min, Documentary, 2021
THE HIDDEN RIVER, 75min, Documentary, 2017
A SUMMER LOVE, 62 min, Documentary, 2015
A MILE END TALE, 68 min, Documentary, 2013
HOW CAN YOU TELL IF THE LITTLE FISH ARE HAPPY?, 100 min, Documentary, 2009
SWEET NIGHTS SOUR NIGHTS, 52 min, Documentary, 2004