Ye Lou directs and co-writes, with Yingli Ma, the COVID-centric An Unfinished Film. The title of this Chinese drama refers to Xiaorui (Mao Xiaorui), resurrecting an LGBTQIA film that stalled out due to disagreements with the producers 10 years ago. But he believes now, winter 2019, is the time to create a new ending and bring everyone back to finish the film. There’s the leading man Jiang Cheng (Qin Hao), Sang Qi (Xi Qi), Ye Xiao (Xuan Huang), director of photography Jian Zeng (Jian Zeng), as well as all the various crew, such as lighting and sound specialists.
Trying to work around everyone’s schedules proves to be one of the easier aspects, as shortly after the new year, rumors of a disease spreading quickly begin to circulate. Then, the production manager tells the crew to start packing up some of the larger pieces of equipment in case things shut down as other productions have already. As the days wear on and Xiaorui is determined to get closure with this piece of art, lockdowns begin. So, while Jiang tries to flee to get back to his wife and child, law enforcement officers and doctors are on hand to keep order and tend to the sick. Days stuck in the hotel become weeks, which morph into months, and the rest is, well, awful history.
“…winter 2019, is the time to create a new ending and bring everyone back to finish the film…rumors of a disease spreading quickly begin to circulate.”
An Unfinished Film might be a fictional story, but it is more truthful than most documentaries and especially any “reality shows.” For starters, almost everyone in the cast is playing some version of themselves, including the crew who is told to pack up. See, those folks are the crew of this film, posing as the crew of the fictionalized unfinished film. That film-within-a-film is made up of unused footage from Lou’s previous credits, including Mystery and Spring Fever. The uncertainty of what’s happening and the desperation to connect during the lockdowns is relatable no matter who you are.
Lou keeps several cameras, including phones, going at all times so every moment of the ensuing chaos is captured. The characterizations are good for Xiaorui and Jiang, though a lot of the others get sidelined. Still, the story structure is engaging, as all watching want this unfinished film to be completed while hoping everyone remains safe. The numerous calls home create a personal connection between Jiang, his family, and the audience. His need to escape makes absolute sense, while Xiaorui’s refusal to give up on his dream film highlights a passionate drive.
An Unfinished Film is the COVID-19 film we’ve all been waiting for since the pandemic started. It’s gripping, reflective, dramatic, and even a bit humorous. The use of actual footage and the real crew members for the fake film creates a realism unmatched in other narrative films about filmmaking. Lou has had a long and illustrious career, and this could well be the director’s grand opus.
For more information, visit the official An Unfinished Film Film Movement page.
"…this could well be the director's grand opus."
