Chinese filmmaker Lin Jianjie’s debut feature, “Brief History of a Family,” has released its trailer after its world premiere in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition section of the Sundance Film Festival. The film, distributed by Films Boutique, is set to make its European premiere in the Panorama program of the Berlin Film Festival.
Variety critic Carlos Aguilar warmly received the film, describing the suspenseful drama as “elevated by its consistent visual inventiveness.” Initially perceived as the story of a “cunning infiltrator wreaking havoc in an unsuspecting household,” the film takes an unexpected turn, revealing itself as “a tale of wish fulfillment for everyone involved.” Aguilar praises Lin’s approach, turning the debut into an “engrossing brain-tickler.”
The narrative is set in motion by an incident at the high school attended by Wei, an outgoing only son from a middle-class family, and Shuo, his quiet, perceptive classmate. As Wei introduces Shuo to his cell biologist father and former flight attendant mother, the film explores the dynamics of their lives. Shuo, coming from a troubled background, is welcomed into Wei’s family, gradually uncovering unspoken secrets, unmet expectations, and untended emotions shadowing their seemingly comfortable existence.
As the story unfolds, a tragic incident further complicates their lives, placing past wounds and present anxieties under the microscope. Lin, serving as both writer and director, skillfully navigates the complexities of the narrative. The film’s producers are Ying Lou, Yue Zheng, and Yiwen Wang, with Jiahao Zhang as the director of photography, Yao Xu as the production designer, and Per K. Kirkegaard as the editor. The music is crafted by Toke Brorson Odin.
The key cast includes Feng Zu, Keyu Guo, Xilun Sun, and Muran Lin. Lin, based in Beijing, holds an MFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and has previously gained recognition for his short films “A Visit” (2015) and “Gu” (2017), both screened at various international film festivals.
