Gazing at Reality Through the Mirage of a “Golden Age”— Producer Kuo Li on A Winter Mirage and Cross-Cultural StorytellingBetween China and the UK

Produced by Kuo Li and directed by Guoju, A Winter Mirage explores individual lives

against the backdrop of China’s economic transformation through a

documentary-inflected visual language. Set in Yiwu—one of the world’s most significant

hubs for small commodity trade—the film follows a single mother over the course of a

winter solstice day, capturing the emotional and existential conditions of individuals

navigating social change. Anchored by the father’s death anniversary, the son’s

impending departure abroad, and shifting urban spaces, the film unfolds in near real time,

revealing both resilience and fragility under the pressures of family and society.

Urban Space in Long-Take Narrative

Filmed across four cities in Zhejiang Province, A Winter Mirage was shot in approximately

25 real locations within seven days. Key settings include the Yiwu International Trade

Market, historic town districts, and a traditional New Year temple fair stage—each

presenting complex and unpredictable filming environments and ect.

One of the most challenging sequences takes place on a temporary opera stage during a

temple fair, involving large numbers of non-professional performers and a highly

uncontrolled setting. The shoot coincided with the region’s heaviest snowfall in over a

decade, significantly increasing production difficulty. Through extensive coordination, Kuo

successfully brought the sequence to completion under demanding conditions.

The film relies heavily on long takes, placing rigorous demands on spatial design and

choreography. Guoju constructs a series of “liminal” urban spaces—empty marketplaces,

underground garages,and rain-soaked highways—allowing the audience to experience

the character’s solitude and pressure in near real time.

During industry screenings in the UK, several professionals noted that the film

approaches the scale and complexity of a feature-length production in its execution.

A Producer as Creative Collaborator

As the film’s sole producer, Kuo Li’s role extends beyond production oversight into the

realm of creative authorship. From early development through to on-set execution, she

was deeply involved in shaping narrative structure, spatial logic, and performance

direction. During production, she also contributed to crowd coordination and staging,

ensuring precision in both performance and camera movement within long takes.

This close, trust-based collaboration between producer and director proved essential in

navigating the film’s technical and logistical challenges.

Non-Professional Cast and Performative Discipline

All roles in the film are performed by non-professional actors. The team ultimately cast

traditional opera performers in key roles, valuing their physical discipline, timing, and

stage experience—qualities particularly suited to long-take filmmaking. Lead actor

Xiaofeng Chen delivers a series of demanding single-take performances, while a

90-year-old performer brings a restrained and deeply affecting presence to the film’s

conclusion.

Festival Trajectory and International Recognition

Originally structured as a mid-length film of approximately 40 minutes, the project was

re-edited to align more closely with short film programming strategies. Despite this, it was

selected for the 2ANNAS International Mid-Length Competition at the Riga International

Film Festival.

A Winter Mirage had its world premiere at the Carthage Film Festival and has since been

selected for official competition in multiple European festivals across France, Switzerland,

Germany, and Belgium, including the Ghent International Short Film Festival. It was also invited to the

Uppsala International Short Film Festival and etc. The film was presented at the

Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market and also screenings include Festival Scope and the

documentary-focused Visions du Réel. Kuo Li and director Guoju were also selected for

the British Council Talent Programme.

The film also reached the final selection stage of La Cinef at the Cannes Film Festival. As

Kuo Li notes, while festival outcomes can be influenced by timing and circumstance,

repeated selections across European competitions point to a consistent recognition of the

work.

Ongoing Collaboration and Future Projects

As a UK–China co-production, A Winter Mirage was supported by local cultural institutions

in China, including the Zhejiang Wu Opera Research Institute, contributing to the film’s

integration of traditional performance elements.

Kuo Li and Guoju are currently developing new projects, continuing their exploration of

spatial storytelling and contemporary reality.

Alongside her producing work, Kuo Li is also active as a director. Her short film Summer

has recently been completed and is currently being submitted to international festivals.

The film follows two mixed-heritage siblings in the UK, using an everyday conflict to

explore emotional structures within cross-cultural families. Through shifting aspect ratios,

the film reflects the psychological experience of childhood memory.

In addition to her creative practice, Kuo Li is engaged in arts education, with her students

gaining admission to leading UK institutions.

Between Reality and Illusion

In A Winter Mirage, the metaphor of a “golden age” intertwines with the imagery of a

mirage. Through real time, real spaces, and real bodies, the film captures an individual

experience shaped by broader social transformation, while constructing a cinematic space

between reality and imagination.

For its creators, the film represents not only an observation of reality, but also a

commitment to sustaining authorship within it. Its journey through the international festival

circuit marks the beginning of an ongoing dialogue across cultures and contexts.