Mothertongue (film)
| Mothertongue | |
|---|---|
Promotional poster | |
| Simplified Chinese | 春树 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Chūn Shù |
| Directed by | Zhang Lü |
| Screenplay by |
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| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Piao Songri |
| Edited by | Liu Xinzhu |
Production company | Chengdu Lu Films Co.
Ltd. |
Release date |
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Running time | 122 minutes |
| Country | China |
| Language | Mandarin |
Mothertongue (Chinese: 春树) is an upcoming Chinese drama film written and directed by Korean-Chinese filmmaker Zhang Lü and stars Bai Baihe, Wang Chuanjun and Liu Dan. The film follows a struggling actress Chunshu, who returns to her hometown in Sichuan. Confused by the fact that she can no longer speak her native dialect, she searches for a new life.[1][2]
The film had its World Premiere at the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival on October 29, 2025 in International competition vying for Tokyo Grand Prix.[3]
Premise
After living in Beijing for ten years, Chunshu comes back to her hometown, Chengdu, but she feels confused and disconnected, She felt deeply distant from both her mother and the city. A newcomer named Dongdong unexpectedly enters her life and slowly helps her reconnect with the city by exploring old memories and making new discoveries.
Cast
- Bai Baihe as Chunshu
- Liu Dan as Zhang Mei
- Wang Chuanjun as Wang Dongdong
- Peng Jin as Fang Lijuan
- Liu Shuyi as Xiaofen
Special appearance
- Huang Jiansis
- Le Jiskam
- Leilan Connie Loung Han
- Wang Hongwei
- Huang Yan
- Nie Chuvi
Release
Mothertongue had its world premiere at the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival on October 29, 2025 in International competition.[4]
Accolades
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo International Film Festival | November 5, 2025 | Tokyo Grand Prix | Mothertongue | Nominated | [5] |
| Best Director | Zhang Lü | Won | [6] | ||
| Best Actor | Wang Chuanjun | Won |
References
- ^ "春树" [Mothertongue]. Douban. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ "Mothertongue". Tokyo International Film Festival. 1 October 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ Shackleton, Liz (1 October 2025). "Tokyo Film Festival Unveils Competition Line-Up With World Premieres From Rithy Panh, Amos Gitai, Chong Keat Aun & Zhang Lu". Deadline. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ Matt Schley (1 October 2025). "Tokyo reveals lineup with Chong Keat Aun, Rithy Panh, Amos Gitai world premieres". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ Naman Ramachandran (1 October 2025). "Fan Bingbing's 'Mother Bhumi,' Zhang Ziyi's 'She Has No Name' Among Selections as Tokyo Film Festival Unveils Full Lineup". Variety. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ Abid Rahman (5 November 2025). "Tokyo: 'Palestine 36' Takes Grand Prix, Zhang Lu's 'Mothertongue' Wins Two Prizes". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
External links
- Mothertongue at IMDb
- Mothertongue at Douban