The Song of Cotton

Director Zhu Yuancheng brings to life a story of relationships, based on National Book Award-winning author Ha Jin's short story "A Pension Plan." This film follows Mianhua, a young woman looking for a job to give her a little independence. After much searching, she is hired as a full-time caretaker for Mr. Sheng, an ex-boxer who suffers from Alzheimer's. Mianhua must learn to deal with the stubborn, petulant old man as well as convince his distrustful daughter Qin that she is perfect for the job, despite having no prior experience. As she gets to know Mr. Sheng and develop a relationship with him, she must navigate her feelings and separate the real from the imagined. The Song of Cotton addresses the struggles that come to young people figuring out their life, as well as the challenges faced when they fear they have made the wrong decision. Zhu is able to creatively tell this story onscreen with the same astute attention to detail that Jin utilizes in his writing. (Seattle International Film Festival)