When a traffic accident claims the life of He Jie’s husband, a substantial life insurance payment does little to heal the grief. One day, a rare piece of blue amber prompted her to contemplate the value of life. She starts to interact with the family involved in the killing of her husband. She experiences loss of control over her emotions, but eventually learns to let go and move on with her life. Director Zhou Jie’s debut feature film explores a woman’s inner world and the essence of life. It offers riveting glimpses into the city of Chongqing from the eyes of a migrant worker. The film won the Best Cinematography Award at the 2018 Shanghai International Film Festival’s Asian New Talent Competition.

Film introduction and contextualization by Marie Vermeiren: Festival Elles Tournent co-founder and Chinese cinema specialist.