Synopsis

Chao Ping, a Chinese student in Paris, broke her computer containing all her data. While she hopes to be able to recover them, her parents hope for her return to China.

Curator’s Note

The film uses a broken computer as a starting point, investigating into the emotional exchange of the present condition, which has been embedded in the transnational technological assemblage by formed the Internet technology. Innovative and Empathetic! (Zhaoyu Zhu)

Director’s bio

Born in Russia, Adele Shaykhulova moved to France at the age of 12. After earning a master’s degree in Film directing, she directed “Without you, without me”, a documentary awarded at Visions du Réel 2020. She now pursues her studies at La Fémis and directs “What do I look like”, selected at Doclisboa and Cinéma du Réel.

Director’s Note

Chao Ping made the decision to live far from her family. Through her story, I wanted to question our sensitive relationship to computers and telephones - fragile technological items that store our pixelated memories and project the precious images of our loved ones who are far away. Haunted by their faces and their voices, this virtual world remains for Chao Ping the last link with her country of origin.

Festival & Awards

Casts

Jiangchaoping Li, Rémi Langlade, Frank Williams, Matthieu Lucci

Credits

Script : Adèle Shaykhulova, Ondine Lauriot dit Prévost

Production: Paco de Bary

Director of photography: Léo Gatinot

Cameraman : Sarah Ackerer

Sound engineering: Orion Benetos

Production design : Noa Melloul

Image editing: Odelia Benarroch

Sound editing : Coppélia Robert

Sound Mix: David Benoît