Synopsis

They do everything together: they read poetries, have breakfast, see friends, argue with each other, comfort each other, share their childhood and past memories. With imagination, they introspect in solitude and rest in intimacy. At the beginning of twenty years of the 21st century, the world seemed to be in a state of chaos and disorder, with individuals slipping into depression and confusion. The middle-aged intellectual couple engage in one 'long talk' and try their best to express with words, although they might step into a greater unknown. However, expression and communication, imagination and poetry, are already the basis for something.

Curator’s Note

Su Qiqi is one of the most respected film critics in China. Her feature film drove me to tears. With the most sincere state in front of the camera, Su dissects her own life with her academic friend. The black-and-white images echo their emotion of cruel optimism as middle-aged intellectuals. In the face of a broken world, and even in the face of a brutal education system, those abstract, leftist theories become meaningless when it comes to concrete dilemmas in real life. At the end of the film, the protagonist chooses to embrace the contingency, as the production company's name alludes to, referring to an eventual condition where any possibility exists. （Zhaoyu Zhu）

Director’s bio

Su Qiqi is a film critic, curator and university professor. Over the years, she has been working actively to promote Chinese independent cinema. She also co-produced the award winning titles including ‘The Cloud in Her Room’ (Rotterdam Golden Tiger) and ‘A New Old Play’ (Locarno Special Jury Award). ‘Talks Overnight’ is her directorial debut.

Director’s Note

The movie started shooting in the scorching summer of 2021. At that time, I was filled with inner anxiety and inexplicable depression. This was my personal struggle, but it was also a quite universal state - there were so many articles on social media about "how to cope with political depression". The problem seemed abstract yet tangible in everyday life, like a mental issue that had already manifested physically. After reaching a profound low point, I suddenly found the determination to resist, and the only way to do it was through creative work. Once I made this decision, the content and form of creation quickly emerged, as if they had been waiting there. I knew I had to make a film, a blend of documentary and narrative: documentary at its core, with a narrative surface. In other words, it was entirely based on my life, but filmed in a cinematic way, starting from reality but inevitably containing surreal elements, merging the everyday with drama and poetry, ideas, and fantasies. Shortly, I assembled a crew and completed the script, rehearsals, and shooting from September to December. Post-production was finished in September 2022. I am grateful for the trust and participation of all my family and friends. Our intimate relationships have undergone a kind of sublimation in this collaborative creation. This is an avant-garde film that delves into personal and contemporary issues without attempting to offer solutions. Throughout the shooting process, I found myself questioning whether I inadvertently amplified my own problems (though I eventually let go of this notion after completing the film). Nevertheless, the year-long journey with our team to create this piece of work feels truly authentic, especially when compared to the relentlessly scorching year of 2022.

Festival & Awards

Casts

Su Qiqi, Ma Yuebo, Wang Yinjie, Chen Yuantao, Xiao Er, Gu Ling, Yang Lan, Jia Jia, Feng Fang, Liu Yun

Credits

Screenplay: Su Qiqi

Producer: Zhao Jin, Yang Xinru, Ma Yuebo

Editor: Qin Yanan

Director of Photography: Zhang Zheng’an

Music by: Ma Zhengmo

Sound Designer: Huang Sheren