Entertainment
Chinese LGBTQ+ drama 'Big Little Things' heads to Venice Film Festival Horizons section
The feature by Michelle Zhou and Chun Yu dramatizes their real-life family rift and casts Yu's father as himself.
The short version
- Michelle Zhou and Chun Yu's Chinese drama 'Big Little Things' was selected for the Venice Film Festival's Horizons section after declining an invitation to Venice Days.
- The movie is based on the filmmakers' real-life coming-out experience in Harbin, China, and addresses societal expectations and convenience marriages.
- Chun Yu's real-life father, Hai, plays the father in the film to depict their personal family reconciliation.
- Both filmmakers are currently preparing separate future film projects that draw from personal experiences and diaspora stories.
Key facts
- The Chinese feature film 'Big Little Things', created by director-producer team Michelle Zhou and Chun Yu, was invited to screen in the Venice Film Festival's Horizons section.[Variety]
- The filmmakers previously turned down an invitation from the Venice Days section after receiving the offer from Horizons.[Variety]
- The film's plot originates from real-life conflicts during the COVID-19 pandemic in Harbin, China, when Yu's family learned of her romantic relationship with Zhou.[Variety]
- Yu's biological father, Hai, portrays the father character in the feature film.[Variety]
- Zhou is developing a follow-up comedy-drama titled 'Another Stranger', while Yu is seeking international co-producers for a diaspora-focused directorial debut.[Variety]
What remains uncertain
- Production timelines and commercial distribution release dates for the feature film remain unannounced.[Variety]