THIS WOMAN

Feminist activist and multihyphenate artist Zhang’s directorial debut is a raw, often revelatory docufiction experiment that follows Beibei (Li Hehe), a recently unemployed 35-year-old woman who, in the early months of the pandemic, finds solace from an unfulfilling marriage — or at least attempts to — in various affairs, as she questions the social forces that have led her to this point of malaise. Produced by a Malaysian company and filmed in China — where Zhang skirted the nation's censorship boards (which resulted in the film's ineligibility for a domestic rollout) — THIS WOMAN boldly challenges cultural traditions in both countries, yet with Zhang unwilling to make compromises, the film has not been released in either country.

"I was thrilled to have the chance to shoot a film that features the life of my friend. This is an experiment for both of us, two women who are enthusiastic about films and always fascinated by the topics of marriage, family, love, intimacy, and self-exploration." - Alan Zhang

"Far from being merely a view of one woman, Zhang’s movie, however intimate in its dimensions, provides a wide-ranging vision of Chinese society at large. The mere fact of its existence, at a time of stringent control, is remarkable, which makes Zhang’s directorial achievement all the more impressive. It is also a crucial reminder of the artistic and political centrality of independent filmmaking, regardless of its marginal place in the movie business." - Richard Brody, The New Yorker