WATERMARKS (2013)

Three letters from China

Luc Schaedler | go between films
CH 2013 | 73 min | de, en, fr, zh

Synopsis

Based on three different places, «Watermarks» portrays the infractions to which people living in modern day China are subjected due to rapid developments. We learn of the deceptively idyllic Jiuxiancun in the rainy south; of the apocalyptic coal mining site of Minqin and Wusutu in the parched north; and of Chongqing, the megacity on the Yangtze River.

Trailer «Watermarks»

‣ Additional materials

The protagonists give their moving accounts of an unresolved past, an uncertain present and their tentative steps into the future. The film thus paints a complex image of the mental state of the people in this complicated country. “Watermarks” is a subjective snapshot in time that takes a poetic look at the changing everyday life in China.

Statement Director

«Since the crushing of the democracy movement in 1989, I have followed the upheaval in China with equal parts amazement and irritation: the country looks like a huge construction site and seems to be involved in a precipitous search for itself. In this unstable present the protagonists are taking tentative but courageous steps into the future.» – Luc Schaedler

Festivals | Awards

– Semaine de la critique, Locarno (Competition)
– Planete+Doc, Varsovie (Competition)
– DOK.fest Munich (Compétition)
– Intl. Filmfestival San Francisco – Nomination au «Golden Gate Awards» (Competition)
– Silk Road Film Festival , Dublin (Best Documentary)
– TRT Awards, Istanbul (Bes Documentary)

Map of China

CREDITS

World Premiere
August 2013
Original Version
Chinese | de, en, fr, zh ST
Color | 16:9 | DCP | 80 min
ISAN
0000-0002-C32E-0000-M-0000-0000-8
Production
go between films GmbH
SRF Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen
Producer
Luc Schaedler
Writer | Director
Luc Schaedler
Cinematography
Luc Schaedler
Editing
Martin Witz
Sound editing | Sound Design
Roland Widmer
Re-Recording Mix
Dieter Lengacher
Sound
Markus Schiesser, Luc Schaedler
Compositing | Color Grading
Patrick Lindenmaier, Paul Avondet

DISTRIBUTION
International Xenix Filmdistribution