LEFT BEHIND CHILDREN

In China, 69 million children are left behind in rural regions while their parents go to work in the cities. One of them is 14-year-old Qui Che, who was sent to live with his paternal grandparents in the village of Xiuan in Yunnan province when his mother moved to Hangzhou to support her family financially. Qui Che has two brothers, aged 16 and 18, who live with their maternal grandparents in Jiang’an County. Qui Che was only four when his father died. The brothers were separated, as their maternal grandfather couldn't afford to raise all three boys. Qui Che has grown up in loneliness and bearing responsibilities beyond his years. He loves to sing and dreams of becoming a singer. He pours his emotions and struggles into his diaries, crafting a poetic window into his inner world that provides a compelling narrative throughout the film. His story sheds light on his personal journey and the emotional, familial and societal challenges he faces in the absence of his mother, who returns home only once every two or three years. The film explores the broader social phenomenon of millions of children grappling with separation in a rapidly changing China.