ZAMEK Culture Centre

Ma Ke is a PhD student in linguistics, writing his dissertation on Lucy, the female Australopithecus. He argues that Lucy not only walked on two legs but was also, for the first time in human history, capable of language. Professor Li Tong, who questions Ma Ke’s argument, discovers in his thesis a clue that may explain the disappearance of her daughter. Suddenly, Ma Ke’s estranged mother reappears in his life, and he begins to realise that what is happening around him is deeply connected to the subject of his research.

In “All Quiet at Sunrise”, Zhu Xin continues his exploration of complex family ties, particularly between mothers and children. His films often contain elements of metaphysics and magical realism, and All Quiet at Sunrise also reveals his fascination with the conventions of science fiction and the form of the film essay. Zhu Xin’s work seems to follow in the footsteps of Terrence Malick, with his epic dramas about coming of age.

ALL QUIET AT SUNRISE, dir. Zhu Xin, China 2025, 101’