Directed and written by Zhao Pengwei, a graduate from CAA’s School of Film Art, and supported by a creative team including Chen Fei, Chen Lusha, Lin Yi, Zhang Minrui, Liu Mengting, and Lai Chenxin, their film“Northeast Loser” was showcased at the graduation exhibition. The film won thegoldaward for its profound meaning and intricate storytelling.
“Northeast Loser” tells the story set in the early millennium’s deep winter, in Tiehe River Town, a border town in Northeast China known for its timber industry. With factories in turmoil due to restructuring, three young men from a timber factory become anxious about their future. Driven by desire, they decide to commit a crime after much hesitation, argument, and compromise. But how will they act? Will they go through with it? Who will execute the plan? This narrative delves into the struggle between downfall and survival, the suspicion among brothers, and the turning points of fate.
To the director, the millennium era is not just a time but an emotional bond that connects him to his hometown, Tiehe RiverTown. Situated by a river flowing into the Mudan River, Heilongjiang Province, this town was his ancestors’ residence. Although born in the city, he often visited the town to see his elders.Hence, he chose to set the story here to create a more authentic emotional atmosphere. The story was inspired by his mother’s childhood experience of a burglary, which left a lasting impression onher. In the 1990s, Tiehe River Town was unstable, with many unemployed vagrants hiding unknown sides. To escape the hardships of life, he chose to narrate the story from the perspective of a thief, seeking to understand their personality and behavior through his elders’ accounts.
As a Northeasterner, Zhao naturally possesses a sense of humor, leading him to choose absurdity and dark humor as the film’s style. This film is not only a tribute to his hometown but also explores human choices in desperate situations.
Northeast Loser
Artist: Zhao Pengwei (School of Film Art)
Instructor: Su Xia
