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Guo Zhao Guan

Crossing the Border – Zhaoguan
On Transmission 2020
© FLOATING LIGHT (FOSHAN) FILM AND CULTURE CO., LTD.
Because his father is working and his mother is heavily pregnant, seven-year-old Ningning is sent to spend the summer holidays in the countryside with his 77-year-old grandfather Li Fuchang. When the latter learns that an old friend is dying after a stroke, he decides to make the 500-kilometre journey to the hospital together with his grandson by motorbike. A road trip begins for the two in which, as is so often the case, the journey is the destination. On the way, the two meet a frustrated young man, a grumpy middle-aged truck driver and a lonely old beekeeper. Their brush with these three men ignites several philosophical conversations between grandfather and grandson about death, and about remembering. In this Chinese road movie, crossing borders becomes a metaphor for life.
by Huo Meng (Written and Directed by)
with Yang Taiyi, Li Yunhu, Wan Zhong People’s Republic of China 2018 Mandarin 93' Colour

With

  • Yang Taiyi (Li Fuchang)
  • Li Yunhu (Li Yining)
  • Wan Zhong (Li Yunsheng)

Crew

Written and Directed by Huo Meng
Cinematography Wang Zhuo
Editing Huo Meng
Music Yang Taiyi
Sound Design Li Tao, Wu Mark
Sound Li Tao, Wu Mark
Art Director Yi Cunyu
Assistant Director Yi Cunyu
Production Manager Yang Gaowei
Producer Huo Meng

World Sales

Yilisoo

Paris, France

Produced by

Floating Light (Foshan) Film and Culture

Foshan, People's Republic of China

Photos

Huo Meng

© Huo Meng

Born in Taikang in the Chinese province of Henan in 1984, the director first studied law at the Communication University of China before embarking on a master’s degree in cinema at the same institution. His short film Hongguang’s Holidays won Best Student Short Film at the Beijing University Film Festival. His feature Crossing the Border – Zhaoguan won several international awards and was screened at the 2020 Berlinale as part of the On Transmission special programme in which established directors (in this case, Jia Zhangke) introduced the work of up-and-coming filmmakers.

Filmography

2018 Guo Zhao Guan (Crossing the Border – Zhaoguan) 2025 Sheng xi zhi di (Living the Land)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2025