Li Jixian

The Western Trunk Line

Authentic and subtly-written coming-of-age story set against the end of the dark 1970s. A dominant mother, a taciturn father, an elder brother who won’t shape up and the little brother who won’t take sides. Then a beautiful girl comes to live across the road from distant Beijing. (IFFR.com)

Dance Without Music

In 1995, some high schools in Beijing began to enroll students from poor families, allowing the students to attend school free of charge, to keep them in school. They were given a grand name- “Students with Aspirations”. These children, who face a great deal of pressure just to get by, are an enormous inspiration, with their remarkably hard work, their diligence and their self-respect. They are courageous in facing what fate has dealt them and they dance, even without music.

High Sky Summer

The peace of summer life in a village in south-western China is disrupted by the arrival of a film crew which is seeking someone to play the lead in their film. Twelve-year-old Shouxian is excited by the goings-on and constantly hangs around the filmmakers. When he finds out that they're looking for a boy just his age to play the lead, he willingly does all he can to get the part.