Films Boutique has closed a raft of deals on the Chinese movie “Brief History of a Family,” which will play at the Berlinale in the Panorama section.
Chinese filmmaker Lin Jianjie‘s feature debut, “Brief History of a Family” premiered at Sundance and will be screening for buyers at the EFM as well.
Films Boutique has sold the movie to Benelux (September Films), Italy (Movies Inspired) and Spain (Karma Films).
The drama is set in the aftermath of an incident at the high school attended by Wei, an outgoing only son from a middle-class family, and Shuo, his quiet, perceptive classmate. Wei soon introduces his friend to his father, a cell biologist, and his mother, a former flight attendant. Learning that Shuo comes from a troubled background, Wei’s parents welcome this boy to spend more time in their home. Shuo slowly integrates himself into Wei’s family life and discovers that their comfortable existence is shadowed by unspoken secrets — until a tragic incident puts past wounds and present anxieties under the microscope.
Penned by Lin, the movie was described by Variety as a “sleek and stimulating feature” that puts a “twist on the family infiltrator plot.” Producers are Ying Lou, Yue Zheng and Yiwen Wang. The key crew includes cinematographer Jiahao Zhang, production designer Yao Xu, editor Per K. Kirkegaard and music composer Toke Brorson Odin. “Brief History of a Family” stars Feng Zu, Keyu Guo, Xilun Sun and Muran Lin.
Lin previously directed the short films “A Visit” (2015) and “Gu” (2017), which screened at many international film festivals.
Films Boutique’s Berlinale slate also includes Ray Yeung’s “All Shall Be Well” in Panorama, and Anthony Schatteman’s “Young Hearts,” which plays in the Generation section.
