Synopsis

Meng Qin's daily life revolves around taking care of her 11-year-old son who has a rare genetic disease. Already four months pregnant, Meng Qin is both hesitant to tell her son about the pregnancy and fears for the health of the second child.

Curators’ note

The Second Child follows a mother and her 11-year-old son, who has a rare genetic disorder, as their fragile lives are further strained by her four-month pregnancy. Through stagnant frames, dim lighting, and claustrophobic set design, Luo Runxiao immerses us in a world of quiet despair and relentless suffering, where unspoken pain intertwines with love, making even the smallest acts of resistance seem hurtful. In this suffocating existence, The Second Child confronts us with a haunting question: what does survival mean when hope is fragile and suffering feels endless? Set against the backdrop of towering cityscapes, it delves into the quiet struggles of a family forced to navigate an unyielding cycle of tragedy and endurance. (Tina and Chen Xi)

Director’s bio

Runxiao Luo, born in 2000, is a Chinese director and screenwriter. He is a Cum Laude graduate from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. His debut short film "Hair Tie, Egg, Homework Books'' was selected into the 78th Venice Film Festival in 2021, making Runxiao the youngest Chinese director in history to be nominated at one of the three major European film festivals. His new short film "The Second Child" is selected into the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival in 2024.

Director‘s statement

Festival & Awards

26th Shanghai International Film Festival International Short Film Screening in 2024

Casts

Yanxi Li, Hangcheng Zhang

Credits