Short film
Van Pianist
2025 · 15 min
A quiet, intimate portrait of grief and resilience, watching a man's private ritual become a quiet act of remembrance amid political upheaval.
- Directed by
- Hetong Zhang
- Overview
- In 2020, Wuhan resident Haitao Peng lost his father and newborn son. He took up piano and eventually played in the city's streets, transporting it in his van. Mourning his losses, this private ritual gradually took on deeper meaning during China's nearly three-year pandemic controls, which ended abruptly in late 2022. The film reflects on the rarely discussed closing chapter of China's Zero-COVID policy and the fragile balance between public health and personal freedom.
- How it feels
- Melancholic, earnest and dark. Slow-burning and needs your attention.
- About
- Grief, isolation, freedom, healing
- Content
- Mild language. No violence, gore or sexual content.
- Note
- Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown
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