The Shore of Life

Zhang Chi / China

Screening

Zumzeig

31-10-2025 / 17:00 h.

Thanks to

Film Information

Year: 2025

Duration: 97'

Language: VOSC

Genre: Drama

Synopsis

Yingnuo, a single mother in her early thirties, makes the difficult decision to entrust her five-year-old daughter, Diu Du to her estranged father. She journeys back to her small hometown in Jiangnan, where they encounter him. Ying Dahai, a man who had previously severed all ties with her and vowed never to reconnect, becomes her reluctant guardian. Yingnuo’s drastic choice is driven by her long-held dream of competing in the prestigious World Fondant Cake Competition abroad. However, beneath this aspiration lies a deeper, hidden story that compels her to seek this separation. As the unreliable Ying Dahai employs various quirky tactics to prevent Yingnuo from leaving, their forced proximity sparks unexpected changes.

Director

Zhang Chi is an independent director, screenwriter, art director and editor in mainland China. Graduated from the Directing Department of the Central Academy of Drama, he has served as a program director for CCTV and a teacher in the performance department of the Communication University of China. He has also served as an executive director in many TV dramas and directed online digital films. His most recent release, The Shore of Life, premiered at the 2025 Shanghai International Film Festival.