The filmmaker and artist is based in Shanghai and has a master’s degree in film directing from Columbia College Chicago. She investigates subtle and inexplicable relationships between individuals in contemporary life with a particular focus on insecure, nomadic and transient states. Her artistic work is born of a desire to explore the realm of the agnostic and to construct an ethereal landscape that transcends physical space. She is often searching for things that approach eternity in the moment of the here and now.
What was your starting point for „Shi ri fang gu“?
When I graduated from film school in 2021, I worked in commercial production, spending long hours within the confines of a vast and often gloomy studio. Amidst this controlled environment, I found solace in moments of respite, where I could step outside and witness the breathtaking beauty of an unobstructed sunset in the suburban landscape. Yet, despite the profound impact these moments had on me, it seemed as though no one else in the studio shared my fascination. A deep sense of rupture emerged between two spaces.
It was during one of these solitary reflections that the seed of „Sojourn to Shangri-La“ began to take root. The desire to capture and share the emotion and experience of these fleeting moments became my driving force. It wasn’t merely about documenting a sunset; it was about encapsulating the sensation of awe and tranquility brought by nature during a human activity driven by capital.
The catalyst for the film’s narrative came from an unexpected source – a serendipitous encounter by a friend, Meimei, who later became the production designer for „Sojourn to Shangri-La.“ She recounted an event where a massive installation was swept away by the tide during a commercial film set, where she worked as an art assistant.
Intrigued by the subtle conflicts inherent in this event and inspired by the emotional resonance it evoked within me, I knew I had found the perfect framework for „Sojourn to Shangri-La.“ Drawn from this true experience and my own emotions, I crafted a narrative that weaved together the themes of transience, beauty, and the human experience, all against the backdrop of this unexpected event.
Do you have a favorite moment in the film? Which one and why this one?
My favorite moment in the film is when the drone, representing the protagonist’s perspective, gracefully glides past the trees, revealing the crew’s rest area nestled within the forest. This moment is particularly significant because of the intimate proximity and movement of the drone to the protagonist. It symbolizes her empowerment through technological advancement, transcending her previously marginalized position within the crew and gaining the ability to gaze back at others within the group.
Moreover, the vulnerability of the crew members portrayed in this scene, all asleep within the frame, adds a deeply touching dimension. It underscores their humanity, highlighting a fragility that resonates profoundly.
What do you like about the short form?
The feature film format often demands attention to prolonged events and emotional buildup, whereas short films possess the power to encapsulate the eternal essence from fleeting moments.
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INTERVIEWS
„From this true experience and my own emotions, I crafted a story that weaves together the themes of transience, beauty and the human experience, all within the context of this unexpected event.“
Interview by Nicolas Bardot for Le Polyester
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PRESS REVIEWS
„calling Godard’s use of the sea in his modernist update of Odysseus, Le Mépris, Sojourn to Shangri-La is a similarly playful, yet abstract dissection of the infinite perils of movie-making. Concerning an art direction team for a fashion shoot that has lost its art installation to the waves, Lin Yihan’s Chinese movie, shot in artsy, boxy black-and-white, splits the difference between a behind-the-scenes documentary (with petty squabbling between the art crew and a haughty DOP and an aggressive American producer) and something far more inscrutable and dreamlike.“
review by Redmond Bacon for Directos Note
„Dessen von einem düsteren Schleier umgebene Schwarz-Weiß-Aufnahmen entrücken die Wirklichkeit dezent, als das Geschehen noch fest darin verankert scheint. Doch umso mehr schlechte Nachrichten die Hauptfigur treffen – die Herablassung des Kameramanns, die Streichung des nächsten Auftrags- umso weiter entgleitet das Szenario dem Hier und Jetzt. Der Suchflug einer Drohne über das Meer wird zum Anfang einer Gedankenflucht aus dem zermürbenden Arbeitsalltag in meditativ mythische Märchenhaftigkeit. „
review by Lida Bach for moviebreak
„Her practice is born out of a desire to explore the realm of the agnostic and to construct an ethereal landscape that emerges above the physical space. She is often searching for things that approach eternity in the moment of “here and now”. „
about the director in Midnightblurfilms
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„In the temporary community created on a film set in Shi ri fang gu, moments of solidarity arise between those right at the bottom of the hierarchy. „
interview with section head Anna Henckel-Donnersmarck for Berlinale Topics
reactions on letterboxd
Berlinale Shorts 