Cocoon

Saturday 7th October 2017, 17:30-19:30
Screening prior to While You Weren’t Looking

Year: 2017
Country of Origin: China
Length: 25 min
Director: Mei Liying

Synopsis

1997 China is a place of transitions. Control of Hong Kong has just returned to the mainland. Western values are beginning to impact traditional Chinese values.
At this time, 11-year-old Qingqing is also in a place of transition. On the cusp of adolescence, she lives with her mom in the peaceful city of Wuhan. Her father, who works in Shenzhen (China’s first special economic zone) comes home only once a month. Qingqing and her friends are beginning to discover the opposite sex, and each other.

When Qingqing discover her mom’s oddly close relationship with a female friend, she starts stalking them, only to discover a secret that will unravel her peaceful family life, and all her burgeoning conceptions about love, sex, and female desire.

Director’s Bio 

Mei Liying

Mei Liying is a writer, director who grew up in Wuhan and Beijing, China. She has a MFA degree from School of Cinematic Arts, University of Southern California and a BA degree in Communication Studies and Film Studies from Northeastern University.
Mei’s feature documentary AMITABHA, which explores contemporary Chinese Buddhism, was nominated for China’s prestigious Gold Panda Award for best documentary. Her recent fiction short film COCOON was screened at festivals such as the American Pavilion Emerging Filmmakers at Cannes Film Festival, BFI Flare London LGBT Film Festival, Iris Prize, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Outfest Los Angeles, Raindance Film Festival, etc.
Mei just co-wrote and edited LUNA, a project that’s produced and distributed by Warner Bros. Studio.
Apart from her passion for filmmaking, Mei has been working for nonprofit organizations that lobby for Women’s and Children’s rights.