Film Title: Where Are You
1. Logline
A determined woman’s search for her missing husband in China uncovers a harrowing journey of truth, love, and resilience, all while confronting the oppressive forces that tore her family apart.
2. Synopsis
Where Are You follows the journey of Lucy, a Chinese-Canadian woman who embarks on a relentless search to find her husband, Gao Li, who vanished under mysterious circumstances in China. Gao Li, a human rights lawyer, was known for defending individuals persecuted by the Chinese government, which eventually led to his arrest. Faced with silence from the authorities and plagued by haunting memories of their time together, Lucy turns to international organizations and the media in a desperate attempt to bring him home.
Along the way, Lucy must navigate a perilous path filled with government surveillance, political cover-ups, and personal betrayal. The only support she finds is from her friend Vivian, who helps her confront the difficult truths about the fate of her husband. As Lucy pushes against insurmountable odds to find Gao Li, the film explores the themes of love, justice, and the cost of standing up for one’s beliefs in a regime that punishes dissent.
Set against the contrasting backdrops of bustling Toronto and politically charged Beijing, Where Are You paints an emotional portrait of one woman’s fight to reunite her family amidst the harsh realities of political oppression.
3. Director’s Statement
As the director of Where Are You, I wanted to craft a story that transcends borders and speaks to universal themes of love, justice, and human dignity. While the film draws from real events, it’s not a documentary but a dramatic exploration of the emotional and political struggles faced by individuals caught between two worlds.
The inspiration for Where Are You came from the harrowing tales of human rights lawyers like Gao Li, whose bravery in the face of oppressive regimes has always deeply moved me. Their stories of unwavering commitment to justice, even when the price is their freedom, offer a powerful reminder of the courage it takes to challenge systems of power.
From the very beginning, I envisioned this film not just as a story of one woman’s search for her husband, but as a tribute to all those who stand up against injustice, no matter the cost. The juxtaposition of Lucy’s quiet life in Toronto with the tumultuous realities of her husband’s imprisonment in China allowed me to play with contrasts in the film’s visual and emotional tones. The use of flashbacks, cityscapes, and intimate moments between Lucy and Gao Li were all carefully designed to emphasize the weight of loss and the hope for reunion.
Through Where Are You, I hope to shed light on the personal costs of political oppression, the power of resilience, and the unbreakable bond of love that drives people to search for the truth, even when it seems impossible. It is my sincere hope that audiences will walk away from this film feeling both emotionally moved and compelled to reflect on the value of justice in our own societies.
