“Late” is a short film about the late-coming of a baby, a loved one, and a long-overdue reconciliation between a mother and daughter. In this story, life and death come full circle and the mother and daughter come together. The mother secretly grieves for the loss of an unconfessed love and the daughter anxiously expects a baby. Each of them holds onto a secret that keeps them apart. But as they wait for the arrival of their new family member, their secrets come into the open and become an unexpected consolation for both.
“As an estranged mother and daughter anxiously await an overdue baby, a strange dream of a deceased loved one prompts them to uncover deeply buried secrets and emotions.” “Late” is my cinematic exploration of questions that perpetually confound me—what does it mean for a woman to become a mother? How can we break the cycle of intergenerational trauma? Is there an ideal timing for love? This short film delicately unravels the intricacies of human relationships, particularly the overdue reconciliation between a mother and daughter as life’s journey comes full circle. Shot entirely in Shanghainese against the backdrop of Chinese traditions, the narrative unfolds with a poignant offering to the departed, symbolizing a timeless connection between the living and the beyond.
Xiao Li (30s). Lonely, resilient, and sympathetic. A single mother-to-be, she plans her life down to every second. But her overdue pregnancy and her mother’s erratic behaviro begin to slowly unnerve her. As she prepares for her baby’s arrival, she attempts to connect with her mom for guidance and comfort.
Mrs. Hong (late 60s or early 70s). Lively, loving, and patient. While taking care of her pregnant daughter, she secretly mourns a deceased friend and tries to make small talk with her daughter. She spends most of her time reminiscing about the past— her marriage, her memories of being pregnant with her daughter, and, more recently, her last love.
In the rich tapestry of Chinese tradition, the act of presenting sustenance to departed souls and ceremoniously burning symbolic paper money serves as an invitation for the deceased to revisit the living. This ritual is believed to facilitate the nourishment of the spirits and ensure their flourishing existence in the realms beyond. It is also widely believed that by extending assistance to the departed, a reciprocal bond is forged wherein the deceased, now benevolent spirits, bestow blessings upon the living and protect their friends and family. This short film opens with such an offering to Mrs. Hong’s departed friend, Shan Shan, as her spirit descends into Xiao Li and Mrs. Hong’s household to accept the gifts. We, as the audience, enter this world in synchrony with Shan Shan’s arrival. And we see, through her eyes, the poignant tale of the daughter and mother, initially estranged but ultimately converging in a dance of familial reconnection. If David Lowery’s A Ghost Story aligns us with the point of view of a personified ghost, this short film allows us to completely embody the spirit.
a ghost is a memory, a vessel of pain and grief. but a spirit without a body is free! she is the carrier of hope.
thematic threads
love death circle of life motherhood intergenerationality reincarnation immigration lateness