Work Cultures

The dramas in this block tackle the different work ethics held by different cultures, and the complex relationships people have with work – from its link to toxic masculinity to the generational inheritances types of work bear. In these milieus of labour and toil, larger aspirations beyond these work cultures are quickly felled.

Sister
China (13min), Dir: Janine Bujie Zhang

A pair of left-behind sisters welcome their parents who haven’t been home for two years. Sisters look forward to the reunion, but only to find awkwardness and estrangement. The naive and outgoing younger sister is excited for the gifts her parents have brought from the city, while the quiet and introverted elder sister becomes even more gloomy. Within only their parents’ stay of four days, the family grows closer and comes to an unspoken understanding of affections to each other. Soon it’s time for the family to say farewell again. Find out more here.

Ashmina
United Kingdom/Nepal (16min), Dir: Dekel Berenson

Nestled between a beautiful lake and the Himalayas, Ashmina, 13, lives with her family at the outskirts of Pokhara Nepal, paragliding capital of the world. The remote and traditional town is also a busy tourist destination where the locals are profoundly affected by the swarms of tourists who visit it daily. Forced to skip school, Ashmina helps her family make ends meet by working at the landing field, packing the parachutes of foreign pilots in return of small change.

Inhale
Iran (19min), Dir: Nasser Zamiri

Ebrahim`s chronic insomnia has caused tension between him and his wife, Marziyeh. Find out more here.

The Garage
United States (19min), Dir: Daniel McMellen

A summer job changes everything for a young man in Indiana.

Traces
Belgium (12min), Dir: Sébastien Pins

A horse logger and his horse take us deep into a forest in the Ardennes as the seasons go by, living his passion under the gaze of a strange young girl…
The man will teach her his passion of draft horse logging: this is a film about the idea of passing down, and how some encounters can lead to a life’s calling.

The short film “Traces” shows today’s youth as the main force of the preservation of our forests. It also highlights of the emotional symbiosis between man, the animal and the forest.

This block will play on Sunday 29th August at 1.30pm (GMT+1). The block will play for approximately 80 minutes and be followed by a Q&A with any of the filmmakers who are in attendance. View our 2021 programme here.