Chinese Mainland Film Panorama 2026: "Like Winds, Like Weeds"

Director: Zhang Fan Screenwriters: Zhang Fan, Wang Yingjie Cinematographer: Li Yong Cast: Guo Keyu, Wang Shiyun, Chen Jiayang, Liu Guihong, Cao Yumei Produced by Lynn & Fan Pictures, Zhong Film Production 2023 | Colour | 109′ In Putonghua with Chinese and English subtitles Short Film after the Feature Best Picture Nomination, Golden Coconut Awards, The 5th Hainan Island International Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Nomination, The 17th FIRST International Film Festival Following a marriage failure, a middle-aged woman moves to Shanghai and works as a housekeeper. At the same time, she looks after her mother with dementia and her rebellious son. Beneath the city’s glittering surface, all three long to return home. Yet upon returning to their hometown beneath Cangshan Mountain, they find everything has changed—even the place they once called home, now bears a different name. A story of three generations struggling to survive away from home, Like Winds, Like Weeds is a tough journey in search of inner freedom. Director Zhang Fan expands the short film of the same name, Like Winds, Like Weeds (28′), into a feature-length exploration of the struggles faced by women, nostalgia and displacement. Acclaimed at several film festivals, the film is dedicated to everyone who has ever left home.