Stay at Home

Stay at Home is a short film that I directed, shot, and produced in 2023. Initially, my aim was to document the experience of staying at home while dealing with injured knees and COVID-19. This period of confinement led me to develop a deeper understanding and stronger connection with my family in China, who were grappling with the hardships brought on by severe lockdown measures due to COVID-19.

The first draft of the film primarily consisted of footage depicting my attempts to care for myself, accompanied by a voice-over of me reading messages sent by my parents during their battle with COVID-19.

Upon returning home to China, I was inspired to create the second draft of the film. During my two-week stay with my parents and grandmother, I finally took the opportunity to visit my grandfather’s tomb, paying my respects to him. He had unfortunately passed away in January 2021, and I hadn’t been able to see him due to the strict lockdown policies in China at the time. Editing together footage from my life in Tokyo with scenes from my time spent at home in China, I found that they intertwined.This juxtaposition underscored the surreal nature of memory, particularly when it comes to those people who have departed from this world sooner than you expected.

This project reflects on my feelings about my family, hometown, memories, and the alienation of living away from home for a long time. It also explores thoughts about life and death and the journey of self-discovery.

short film/ documentary project, 2024

Coming soon