Imagine a young Chinese girl, raised in the quaint embrace of a Welsh fishing village, staunchly rejecting the folklore her mother holds dear. Yet, in a twist of fate, she encounters something magical that challenges her very beliefs. This is the captivating premise of Under the Wave off Little Dragon, a 14-minute short film by Luo Jian, showcased at the 69th BFI London Film Festival (LFF). But here’s where it gets intriguing: this Mandarin-, English-, and Welsh-language film is part of the LFF’s ‘Discovering Home’ collection, inviting viewers to explore themes of identity, culture, and belonging.
Starring Kexin Wang as the curious and spirited FeiFei, the film also features Ah Mui Lau, Jessica Dong, Stevee Davies, Rhys Meredith, Ross Foley, and Lee Mengo. It’s one of four Film4 shorts at the festival, supported by Future Takes, a collaborative initiative between the BFI and Channel 4’s Film4. This program nurtures films from conception to streaming, ensuring they reach audiences on platforms like Channel 4 and the BFI Player.
In a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Jian shared how her personal experiences shaped the film. Three years ago, feeling lonely after moving from the U.S. to the U.K., she found solace in Wales, whose lush landscapes reminded her of her hometown in China’s greener Gobi Desert region. ‘I saw hints of China everywhere in Wales,’ she recalls, from the Welsh red dragon statues to the very essence of the land itself. But this is the part most people miss: her playful argument with her Welsh partner over whether the dragon was Chinese or Welsh sparked a deeper exploration of cultural intersections.
Casting the charismatic FeiFei was no small feat. Found through an exceptional casting director, Kexin Wang, then just seven years old, stood out for her serious demeanor—a charming way of masking her nerves. Her mother, who co-owns a restaurant near Heathrow, even helped improvise scenes, adding authenticity to their on-screen relationship. And this is where it gets controversial: Jian’s decision to cast real people and encourage improvisation shifted the film’s focus from a first-generation immigrant’s story to one about a second-generation child navigating her cultural identity.
FeiFei’s mother, a first-generation immigrant, shares tales of her Chinese hometown, including the symbolic story of the fish and the dragon—a cautionary tale about striving for a better life. But here’s the bold question: does FeiFei, like Jian herself, truly believe in these tales? The film leaves room for interpretation, inviting viewers to ponder the role of folklore in shaping our identities.
As Jian looks to the future, she’s already brewing ideas for feature films, though she admits she’s not a fast writer. For now, Under the Wave off Little Dragon stands as a testament to her ability to weave personal experiences into universal stories. What do you think? Does folklore hold power in your life, or is it merely a relic of the past? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a conversation!
