It
takes
100
lies
to
cover
1
lie.
After returning to China from her studies in the US, Lei hides her same-sex relationship with her girlfriend, Bay, from her conservative northeastern family.
With Chinese New Year approaching and pressure mounting for her to marry, she convinces a friend Yao to pose as her boyfriend to deflect their scrutiny.
As the deception deepens, Lei becomes entangled in a web of lies that spirals out of control. When the man Yao suddenly ghosts her and Bay unexpectedly visits, the fragile facade shatters, igniting a painful confrontation that forces Lei to confront the cost of her lies and the struggle for authenticity.
With Chinese New Year approaching and pressure mounting for her to marry, she convinces a friend Yao to pose as her boyfriend to deflect their scrutiny.
As the deception deepens, Lei becomes entangled in a web of lies that spirals out of control. When the man Yao suddenly ghosts her and Bay unexpectedly visits, the fragile facade shatters, igniting a painful confrontation that forces Lei to confront the cost of her lies and the struggle for authenticity.
A letter
from
the
director:
from
the
director:
“This film is about the lie we tell to protect those we love, and the painful consequences that unfold when truth inevitably surfaces.
I was brought home in real life by my same-sex partner, Chun, as a friend until her father found out about our hidden relationship on our third visit. Her parents considered our behaviors as deceiving and unforgivable. I've been thinking about what made me compromise and allow us to lie in the first place. What if it’s a lie meant for good but ends up hurting your beloved the most?
The process of making this film turned into a journey of personal and collective healing. I try to anonymize the lie, and to help a family, including us —come out of the shadows. Chun encouraged me to invite her father to play the role of "father." Initially, he didn’t respond but eventually, he bought himself a train ticket. I knew this was his way of opening up, changing, and confronting feelings he wasn’t used to expressing, using dialogues through the film method. Maybe it’s the power of film.”
I was brought home in real life by my same-sex partner, Chun, as a friend until her father found out about our hidden relationship on our third visit. Her parents considered our behaviors as deceiving and unforgivable. I've been thinking about what made me compromise and allow us to lie in the first place. What if it’s a lie meant for good but ends up hurting your beloved the most?
The process of making this film turned into a journey of personal and collective healing. I try to anonymize the lie, and to help a family, including us —come out of the shadows. Chun encouraged me to invite her father to play the role of "father." Initially, he didn’t respond but eventually, he bought himself a train ticket. I knew this was his way of opening up, changing, and confronting feelings he wasn’t used to expressing, using dialogues through the film method. Maybe it’s the power of film.”
- Michelle
A letter
from
the
producer:
from
the
producer:
“Michelle and I are not only life partners but also collaborators in filmmaking. With similar backgrounds of studying abroad in the US, we've worked together on several short films and documentaries, each taking on different roles. Most importantly, we share the same values in how we perceive the world.
This film is adapted from a chaotic family experience I had with my parents in 2022. Michelle's companion in real life helped me through a dark period. She’s a participant and an observer. When individual choices met traditional values, my parents struggled with responding. Eventually, these experiences became the characters in her film, which signifies a journey of growth for a Chinese family, even if it is just a small step forward.
Same-sex topics are forbidden in our country, we were not able to finance this movie without donations from friends and family, as well as our savings. Now the film is approaching the final rough cut.
Positions for sound, color grading, and composing are still open. We're looking for collaborators who truly understand this story to join us. We also want to find foreign sales companies to help with the film festival circuits and international distribution.”
This film is adapted from a chaotic family experience I had with my parents in 2022. Michelle's companion in real life helped me through a dark period. She’s a participant and an observer. When individual choices met traditional values, my parents struggled with responding. Eventually, these experiences became the characters in her film, which signifies a journey of growth for a Chinese family, even if it is just a small step forward.
Same-sex topics are forbidden in our country, we were not able to finance this movie without donations from friends and family, as well as our savings. Now the film is approaching the final rough cut.
Positions for sound, color grading, and composing are still open. We're looking for collaborators who truly understand this story to join us. We also want to find foreign sales companies to help with the film festival circuits and international distribution.”
- Chun