"The love that was never spoken will eventually be heard again in the echoes of time and technology." The film "For example, Father and Son" premiered in Beijing on December 5th. It was released nationwide on December 6th.
poster
As the first domestic film with an AI theme, which won the Best Artistic Contribution Award at this year's Shanghai International Film Festival, "For example, Father and Son" attempts to redefine the boundaries between people and emotions in the age of algorithms and interpret the silent love between Chinese fathers and sons.
In the film, the protagonist, Zou Qiao (played by Sun Ning), is unable to let go of his father's (played by Song Yang) sudden death. The unspoken concerns and unfulfilled regrets become wounds in his heart that are difficult to heal. Until AI technology opens a door for this obsession—he uses technology as the key, weaving his memories with data, allowing his father to return to him in a "digital form"...
Director Qiu Sheng
At the premiere, director Qiu Sheng stated that the film's creation stemmed from a deep-seated personal emotion—the early loss of his father, which left him with a lingering sense of longing and unspoken regret: "For me, using the concept of AI was a choice from the bottom of my heart. I used this film to get closer to my father and continue an unfinished memory. It was an emotional choice. I hope that all viewers of this film will have the courage to face intimate relationships and, when given the opportunity, communicate more directly and honestly with their family and friends."
Qiu Sheng went on to explain that this is not a thrilling and suspenseful human-machine game, nor is it a fantastical science fiction spectacle—when longing has a concrete form, when "reunion" is achieved through technology, can our connection with our deceased loved ones transcend the boundaries of life and death? "And this is precisely the most real and profound emotional core of the film. I think it fully expresses the regrets and longings of countless people for their loved ones hidden in their hearts."
Movie stills
From preparation to the film's release, "For example, Father and Son" has made Qiu Sheng feel that he has finally "crossed" the hurdle of regret in his heart: "There was originally a scene of a father and son fighting in the movie, but I thought, is it necessary for the father and son to keep entangled? So I chose to have the protagonist put down the AI glasses with a light movement. At that moment, I also put them down off-screen."
When discussing her collaboration with director Qiu Sheng, executive producer Li Lingyan revealed that the biggest challenge of "Father and Son" was the lack of precedents to follow. "The father-son relationship is a very traditional and even ancient creative theme, but the director used a very light approach and the youthful method of AI to tell this meaningful and valuable story, using science fiction techniques to tell an Eastern emotion."
Producer Huang Junyan
Producer Huang Junyan said that the story of "Father and Son" was created from the director's heart and was also a grand "reconciliation ceremony": "I hope that this story can remain in the hearts of every audience member, so that we can dare to let go when facing farewell in the future and have the strength to continue to live well."
Stills
When interpreting this role that transcends reality and fantasy, Song Yang, who plays the father, said that more than a challenge, this creation felt like a wonderful experience: "It's quite different from the martial arts films I've worked on before, directed by Xu Haofeng. Although there are many action scenes, 'Father and Son' mainly focuses on boxing scenes, which are sports competitions. Before filming started, the crew specially invited a 'featherweight gold belt' (lightweight boxing champion) to teach me, and I felt like I was 'completely broken' every time I stepped off the boxing ring."
Audience members ask Song Yang (first from left) a question.
During the post-screening Q&A session, director Li Ruijun stated that the four-year creative process of "For Example, Father and Son" is itself a remarkable victory. Compared to the director's previous work (Qiu Sheng's debut film "Suburban Birds," which won Best Feature Film at the 12th FIRST International Film Festival), this film also demonstrates a huge breakthrough and a very high level of completion.
Wu Yanyan
Wu Yanyan, director of the Wu Tianming Special Fund of the China Film Foundation, also believes that the film far exceeded expectations: "I also went through a long period of reconciliation with my father's departure. This film's expression of father-son relationships is innovative. In particular, the emotional connection achieved through the imagery of water several times is very impressive."
Li Xiaofeng
Director Li Xiaofeng noticed the unusual cinematic language in "For example, Father and Son": "I think this expression is related to the director's emotional projection and spiritual release, and it also makes the portrayal of the father-son theme in the whole film refreshing."