Brief History of a Family
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| Brief History of a Family | |
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 Festivals release poster | |
| Traditional Chinese | 家庭簡史 |
| Simplified Chinese | 家庭简史 |
| Literal meaning | A Brief History of the Family |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Jia ting jian shi |
| Directed by | Lin Jianjie |
| Written by | Lin Jianjie |
| Produced by | Lou Ying Zheng Yue Wang Yiwen |
| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Zhang Jiahao |
| Edited by | Per K. Kirkegaard |
| Music by | Toke Brorson Odin |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by |
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Release dates | |
Running time | 99 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | Mandarin |
| Budget | US$1.5 million |
Brief History of a Family (Chinese: 家庭简史), is a 2024 psychological thriller film written and directed by Lin Jianjie in his feature directorial debut. The film, starring Zu Feng, Guo Keyu, Sun Xilun, and Lin Muran depicts a middle-class Chinese family in the post-one-child-policy era, who takes in their only son's mysterious new friend, triggering buried family tensions as secrets and feelings surface.[1]
An international co-production, the film was selected in the Panorama section at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival and was screened on 17 February 2024 for its European premiere.[2]
Wei, an outgoing young man and the only son of a prosperous Chinese family, shares an unexpected bond with Shuo, his quiet and observant classmate, after an incident at their high school. This mysterious connection draws them closer, intertwining their lives. He introduces Shuo to his parents—a cell biologist father and a former flight attendant mother. Intrigued by Shuo's enigmatic charm, Wei's parents encourage him to spend more time with their family. As Shuo becomes increasingly integrated into their lives, he uncovers hidden layers beneath their seemingly comfortable existence. However, a tragic event shatters the fragile equilibrium, revealing old wounds and current fears. The family's facade begins to crack, and the true complexities of their relationships come to light.
Cast
- Zu Feng as Wei's father
- Guo Keyu as Wei's mother
- Sun Xilun as Yan Shuo
- Lin Muran as Tu Wei
Production
In the production phase, the project was presented at the industry event European Work in Progress, as part of the Film Festival Cologne 2022, where it won the mm filmpresse Award worth €7,500 for international festival public relations.[3] The film made with a budget of US$1.5 million was financed by Doha Film Institute Qatar, Torino Lab and Films du Milieu. It was shot in Chengdu, Hangzhou and Beijing.[4]
Release
Brief History of a Family had its premiere in World Cinema Dramatic Competition at 2024 Sundance Film Festival on 19 January 2024.[5][6] It had its European premiere on 17 February 2024, as part of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, in Panorama.[7][8] Films Boutique acquired the sales rights of the film.[9]
The film was featured in Features section of the 71st Sydney Film Festival on June 7, 2024.[10] The film was also screened in 'Horizons' at the 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival on 28 June 2024.[11][12] The film was showcased in 'China on the move' at the 23rd New York Asian Film Festival on July 20, 2024.[13] It was screened in 'Panorama' at the 2024 Vancouver International Film Festival on 26 September 2024.[14] It also made it to the Meeting Point of the 69th Valladolid International Film Festival and screened on 25 October.[15] It competed in 2024 Stockholm International Film Festival and was screened on 9 November 2024.[16] The film was selected in the Foreground section of the 35th Singapore International Film Festival and was screened on 30 November 2024.[17]
