Filmmaker Bai Zhiqiang spent five years creating "Like Father and Son," his first feature film, to shed light on China's "left-behind children" — minors whose parents work in urban areas and leave them behind in rural areas.

A still image from the film "Like Father and Son." [Photo courtesy of Elemeet]

Bai, who is primarily known for his documentaries, was moved to action after learning that all the children in a school in Shaanxi province he visited while filming his documentary "The Blind Storytellers" (2014) were poverty-stricken left-behind children, with one-third being orphans or from single-parent households. When Bai inquired about their family situations, many of the children cried. Bai strongly wanted to help them, so he and his friends formed a charity and organized donation activities.

As he continued to help them over the next two years, he learned more about their plight and the stories of ordinary people in the area. He realized that these children were not only deprived of material resources but also lacked emotional support and hope for the future.

Bai felt compelled to give them a voice and decided to make a film about their lives. While many suggested a documentary, Bai opted to create a feature film, believing that it was his responsibility to bring these ordinary people's lives to the big screen.

In 2018, Bai relocated to Qingcha village in the Qinling Mountains to write the script. The script underwent 12 revisions, with Bai citing the influence of his scriptwriting mentor Lu Wei, a renowned Chinese screenplay writer. Lu Wei is best known for his work on the classic Chinese films "Farewell My Concubine" and "To Live." Lu eventually agreed to be an executive producer of the film and assisted Bai in polishing and refining the script because the story deeply moved him.

Bai's background in documentary filmmaking has instilled in him a profound appreciation for the importance of authenticity in cinema. He explained, "This time, we were so sincere, trying desperately to make the film as real as possible."

Director Bai Zhiqiang speaks at a Beijing screening event for the film "Like Father and Son" on Feb. 20, 2023. Film producer Tian Jiaoping (2nd L) and two leading actors, Hui Wangjun and Bai Zeze, also attended the event. [Photo courtesy of Elemeet]

Set in 2008 in northern Shaanxi, "Like Father and Son" follows the story of Gou Ren, a truck driver who seeks revenge after the loss of his son, and Mao Dou, a left-behind child whose path intersects with Gou Ren's when he sneaks aboard his truck in hopes of finding his own father. The film takes viewers on a heartwarming and comedic journey as the two unlikely companions bond while searching for their missing loved ones.

The film features non-professional actors, including child actor Bai Zeze, who plays the central role and was discovered through a local audition of more than 1,000 rural students. The adult truck driver is played by the director's childhood friend Hui Wangjun. Despite the lack of professional training, the cast delivers impressive performances.

Although Bai Zeze's parents were present during his childhood, he was raised among many other left-behind children. During filming, the director intentionally separated him from his parents to evoke a genuine outburst of emotions, and this method proved effective. "The child is an incredibly talented actor. He asked me for the script one day, saying everyone else had one, so why didn't he? I gave him the script, and to my surprise, he read it all in one go and remembered most of the lines. It was awe-inspiring," Bai expressed, regarding the child as the "chosen one."

The director also had the adult actor, Hui Wangjun, grow out his hair and beard, refrain from bathing or socializing, and fully immerse himself in the role for three months before shooting. As a taxi driver in real life, Hui's scruffy appearance even frightened away customers who mistook him for a dangerous character. Hui Wangjun went to great lengths to embody his role, even making money on the side by selling goods in rural areas like his character and allowing the production team to subsidize their expenses.

"Some people say that I always focus on marginalized characters. However, in reality, there are millions of people in China who share similarities with these characters, but they never receive an opportunity to have their stories showcased on the big screen," explained Bai. "Since I make films, which are 'talking machines,' I should use my films to speak for them and tell their stories. These small characters are regular people who constitute the majority of the world, and they represent the true 'mainstream.'"

A poster for "Like Father and Son." [Photo courtesy of Elemeet]

The film received critical acclaim at various film festivals, including the FIRST International Film Festival, Beijing International Film Festival, and Silk Road International Film Festival in 2020. It was nominated for the 23rd Shanghai International Film Festival's "Asian New Talent" award and named one of the top 10 new Chinese-language films at the 6th Cinephile Prize, held online in 2021. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a limited budget, and reedits, its wider release was delayed until now. It is due to hit cinemas nationwide on Feb. 25.

Bai stated that he wished to dedicate the film to all young and middle-aged migrant rural workers and left-behind children who struggle at the bottom of society. However, he also received early feedback from his friends that the film moved them to tears, and they struggled to cope with the lingering mood and feelings.

"Some people felt aggrieved and had no outlet to express themselves. But I never intended to upset or sadden the audience," said the director. "I even instructed my composer to tone down the music because adding even a small amount of music is unnecessary for a neo-realism film. So, eventually, we decided to use very restrained music to evoke the audience's emotions and leave them feeling as warm and moved as possible when they leave the cinema, without feeling sad."

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