On 14 February 2025, the 75th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival hosted the world premiere of ‘Living the Land’, the new film by Chinese director Huo Meng. The film was presented in the prestigious Competition section, winning the coveted Silver Bear.
Set in 1991, ‘Living the Land’ follows Xu Chuang, a 10-year-old boy growing up in the remote village of Bawangtai, in China. His childhood is marked by the rhythms of nature and the traditions of the rural community: sowing in spring, harvesting in autumn, wedding celebrations and funeral rites. However, the tranquillity of the village is destined to change with the emigration of young people to the industrialised cities. Through the eyes of Xu Chuang, the film captures the progressive transformation of the landscape and the social fabric, tracing an intimate and poetic portrait of a world destined to disappear.
The film’s cast includes Wang Shang as Chuang, Zhang Chuwen as the great-grandmother, Zhang Yanrong as Xiuying, along with Zhang Caixia and Cao Lingzhi.
The production was led by Fan Zhang, Chinese manager of Bridging Vision, an organisation founded by Orisa Produzioni to promote collaboration between the European and Chinese film industries. Guo Daming’s evocative cinematography and Huo Meng’s sensitive direction have received widespread praise for their ability to capture the beauty and transformation of rural China with extraordinary visual and emotional intensity.
