Synopsis

Otherworldly. Transcendent. Heartwarming. Insightful. Powerful. These six Hugo Award-winning short films have been selected by our juries as the best of the 56th Chicago International Film Festival.

In “The End of Suffering (a proposal)” (Greece), a young  woman’s anxiety attack becomes an intergalactic dialogue with the universe. A young New Jersey native returns to his hometown in “Gramercy” (United States), where his ongoing battle with depression becomes a poetic exploration of brotherhood and personal struggle. Sifting through old letters between his parents, Adam uncovers an extraordinary family secret in “We Have One Heart” (Poland). An essayistic contemplation of the act of desertion within the world of a videogame in “How To Disappear” (Austria). “Tie” (Portgual, France) finds two characters search for missing pieces of themselves in a gloomy, surreal landscape. And “Step Into The River” (China, France) presents a sumptuously-drawn fable about the consequences of China’s one-child policy.

Synopsis

Fed up with his final year at film school, skilled sound recordist Kun is searching for something more. He coasts through class, works dead-end jobs, and is constantly at odds with his girlfriend. With a newly minted drivers’ license, an old second-hand Jeep, and his best friend in tow, Kun takes up with a student production and embarks on a journey of self-discovery across China’s lush, varied landscape. Featuring winning performances and directed with a wry emotional clarity, Striding into the Wind is a keenly observed meditation on movies, modern China, and the meandering restlessness of youth.

Synopsis

A sumptuously-drawn fable about the consequences of China’s one-child policy.