Program 24: 'Yangzhen’s Journey' (China)

YANGZHEN'S JOURNEY - Nyima YangZhen is a dedicated China Postwoman in the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture; she’s also a mother who has a baby to nurse at home. Having worked for several years in the post office, Nyima has grasped her work-life balance. Known for her work ethics, Nyima was nominated and later received the “advanced worker” award. Nyima looks at her medal and is basking in great satisfaction and blessed aura. Yet life is full of mysteries. With great power comes great responsibility. Nyima received a job relocation and must leave her family temporarily to take up a post in rural Yunling township. For the first time in her life, Nyima feels helpless -- stuck in the middle between her baby who still needs to be nursed, and a wall of recommendations and awards. It’s a major family-work dilemma. She knows that her husband could care for the baby, but the locals in the mountainous area need her more.

Her new job is not short of “surprises” and “incidents”. The postal routes linking up the Yunling post office and the remote villages are treacherous trails. Nyima could only deliver mail on foot, carrying heavy postal bags. Nyima has trekked over snow-capped mountains, and trudged through currents and streams; encountering wild wolves when she camped outside at night. Nyima also had to overcome her fear by sliding herself across a steel cable wire above a roaring river.

She’s met all sorts of wonderful villagers on her deliveries. She found refuge at her friend Sangji’s grandma’s home after being chased by a dog. Sangji’s grandma is a wise, gentle old lady. Nyima would stop by grandma’s every time on route as a much-needed pit stop. And she’s more than happy to deliver Sangji’s letter to grandma. A stack of returned letters also draws her attention towards the plight of Little Metok, a left-behind child in the village. With naïve optimism, Metok believes that she could summon her parents’ return from the urban area if she writes 100 letters. Nyima and the old postal director have been working hard to keep this dream alive.

It’s lonesome to deliver mail on arduous routes day after day. In addition, Nyima has to fight her constant yearning to see her own baby. She’s faced life, death, and everything on her job. Nyima was in self-doubt and wanted to quit at one point. But Sangji’s grandma’s encouragement, “There’s still plenty of people who need you here” made Nyima understand her true mission. Nyima braved the years and seasons. From delivering mail on her own to getting her family involved. Nyima finally believes that there’s no right or wrong way at every life’s intersection. One can only be true to your heart and answer your own calling. (94 min, China, 2021, Director: Chengxu Lan)

Short to precede:

PARKLIFE chronicles life in Manhattan’s Columbus Park, where groups of Chinese seniors congregate on a daily basis. As seasons change and an unexpected crisis unfolds with COVID-19, the park’s seemingly outlandish cultural spectacles and nostalgic performances wane. (12 min, 2020, Director: Lillian Xuege Li)

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Cinema Village, 22 East 12th St, New York, United States