Synopsis

On an urban island in Shanghai, Yoyo starts secretly following Lan Tian. In a parallel world, Lan Tian is quietly observing Yoyo in the distance. Trapped in a twin-towered shopping complex, they experience two variations of encounters, as affections, desires and other feelings start to appear.

We conceived the film to be presented in two versions, the second of which inverts the order of the film’s two halves. Everyone can encounter their version by chance.

Curators’ note

As young people wander through the mall with different purposes, the flow of time and relationships brings about a reflection on their own identity, and the heroine Yoyo’s dynamic reflection on her life and emotions reflects the normality of young people wandering in the city. Mobile phone videos and images participate as another medium within the screen. Will they finally find themselves in this encounter that rejects and cherishes each other? (Yuyao Zong)

Director’s bio

Jiajun ‘Oscar’ Zhang was born in Shanghai and graduated from London Film School. His short film "Chi Zi (If You See Her, Say Hello)," co-directed with Hee Young Pyun, won the Special Jury Award in the International Medium-Length and Short Film Competition at the 52nd Visions du Réel Film Festival, among other awards. His works navigate between documentary and fiction, focusing on the relationship between urban spaces and people. His debut feature film "All, or Nothing At All" was nominated for Best First Feature at the 2023 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. It was also selected for the 2024 New Directors/New Films by Film at Lincoln Center and MoMA, making him one of the new directors most watched by New York film critics worldwide that year.

Director‘s statement

"All, or Nothing at All" takes place in Shanghai's Global Harbor shopping mall. I spent my childhood and teenage years in the neighborhood near this location. The giant twin-towered complex was constructed during my studies in London. Upon returning to Shanghai, Global Harbor's imposing presence—a space that had suddenly materialized in my "hometown"—captivated both me and my creative partner Hee Young Pyun. After spending nearly two years walking through the mall daily, documenting and observing its spaces and people, we decided to make a film about the everything and nothing we discovered there.

Festival & Awards

27th Tallinn Black Nights Film

Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival, Asian Perspectives

53rd New Directors/New Films organized by the Lincoln Center and MoMA

22nd South Taiwan Film Festival, nominated for Best Feature Film

Casts

Xiaoyi Chen, Yu An, Cuishan Liang, Ruguang Wei

Credits

Screenwriter: Hee Young Pyun, Jiajun ‘Oscar’ Zhang

Cinematographer: Chao Liu

Sound: Tiago cardoso, Dinis henriques

Editor: Meibei Liu, Keenen Yong, Jiajun ‘Oscar’ Zhang, Hee Young Pyun