Doris and Hong
Doris, a 70-year-old Italian retiree, was born in Eritrea to an Italian family during the Italian colonial period. Hong, a 23-year-old Chinese girl, grew up in the economic boom of China. Having been accepted to an art school in Rome, Hong flew to Rome, and is being housed in Doris’ spare room. It is her first time out of China. Both women considered the living arrangement temporary, lasting for a few months to a year, an exchange of little importance. But what happened during the following months was a surprise to both of them. Symbolically, the two women represent a meeting of the old culture of the West and the new hope and coming of age of the East.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Leonardo Cinieri Lombroso
Watch Doris and Hong on Culture Unplugged
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
In the past years I was working in East Asia. I did documentary with a 100% Asian theme and no western influence. Documentaries on Asian Cinema included "Through Korean Cinema" and "Southesat Asian Cinema-When the Rooster Crows". While doing this work I felt the need to find a story that faces a bridge between the West and the East. Something closer to me and what I had experienced. Working in Asia I have grown a lot - both as a person and spiritually. The encounter and confrontation with another culture makes you think a lot about yourself and who you really are. In another country being foreigner pushes you to adapt yourself there and this develops other qualities in you that you did not know you had before. This is a part of the state of survival.
I wrote a screenplay for a film, then an idea for a theatre play, all with the central theme of the encounter between East and West. But I failed to implement them. And then the story I was looking for, came to me: “Doris & Hong”. The daughter of Doris lived in my building. One evening she invited me to a dinner at her mom’s home and I saw Doris who had just begun to host Hong. I quickly realized that there were two beautiful characters and it was my story between the West and the East.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Because I think in these days when the world turns faster and people meet more easily and where many cultures begin to meet and mingle with each other, you have to give examples of encounter, to show how it could be the meeting and the exchange between two people from different countries. I think people need to find the right key today to relate to the “stranger” in a positive and constructive way. Doris and Hong is a particular story especially for the generational factor. Doris is 73 years old and Hong 23 years, this is an unusual encounter that could happen in any house.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
In this documentary there is a lot of my personal experience, but there is a lot of the life between Doris and Hong.
If you look at a story in its purity without much intellectualism, thoughts and capturing the reality as it is, universal themes. come out easily. Because we are talking about human beings.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
The film began without a narrative structure. I followed the protagonists for a year and a half, called them every week to find out their plans for the week and we decided together what to film. The narrative structure was built in the editing. At the production level, I was filming alone, I ran the camera and sound. I made the crowd-funding to cover travel expenses in China. The Italian production Blue film covered the post-production expenses.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback has been very positive. The first response was from my producers at Blue Film, after seeing the film edited, they were impressed by the story, the strength of the protagonists and its positive message. Doris, when she first saw it, cried so much and she was really excited. The audience laughs and thrills. Many viewers have told me: "why do you call it a documentary? It's a movie." Many were excited and at the end of the screening of the documentary shouted "bravo". Other comments were that they found it very poetic, simple and universal.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback challenged my point of view, and I used this work experience now for my new project.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I just want to show my documentary to as many people as possible, because when you tell a story you always want someone to listen to it, if not, the story doesn’t exist.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I think all of them to help me to promote the documentary.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I’m very happy of what genuine impact come out, and I’ll take it as an experience for my next documentary. I did my work and then I presented it to the people - I can’t do more than that.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
The key question could be “why did you decide to make this documentary? Why did you choose Doris and Hong”
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Now I’m working on a new documentary “Beyond the border – Obaida’s story”
It’s the story of a Syrian guy who's 27 years old. The first time I met Obaida, in 2015, I immediately realized our encounter would have been a special one. Thanks to a scholarship, Obaida managed to leave Syria. He is a strong, very focused boy. He wants to become a software engineer, and he also dreams of singing in front of an audience ... I mean, he is a guy with clear objectives, and is confident in his future. He managed to settle in Italy to study, he was in a competition in a TV program“The Voice” in the Middle East. All he wants is to follow his feelings, his passion - on his own.
Interview: September 2016
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We are moving stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Doris & Hong
Doris, a 70-year-old Italian retiree, was born in Eritrea to an Italian family during the Italian colonial period. Hong, a 23-year-old Chinese girl, grew up in the economic boom of China. Having been accepted to an art school in Rome, Hong flew to Rome, and is being housed in Doris’ spare room. It is her first time out of China. Both women considered the living arrangement temporary, lasting for a few months to a year, an exchange of little importance. But what happened during the following months was a surprise to both of them. Symbolically, the two women represent a meeting of the old culture of the West and the new hope and coming of age of the East.
Length:
‘80
Director:
Leonardo Cinieri Lombroso
Producer:
Leonardo Cinieri Lombroso
Blue Film
Writer:
Leonardo Cinieri Lombroso
About the writer, director and producer:
Blue Film’s productions have always been characterized by a strong social, cultural and anthropological commitment and an innovative use of film language and new technology
Leonardo Cinieri Lombroso is an Italian filmmaker based in Rome. His latest internationally screened documentary film project, “Southeast Asian Cinema – When the Rooster Crows”, has received praise for its most authentic account on the country’s history of cinema, as well as for its aesthetic quality. Premiered Busan 2014. “Doris & Hong” is his first narrative documentary.
Key cast:
Doris Mismetti, Hong Zhang
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists
Funders:
Indiegogo campaign
Made in association with:
Release date:
Dec. 2015
Where can I watch it in the next month?
Next screenings are:
9th of Sept Helsinki
http://www.sciff.fi/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Ohjelma-Lop.pdf
13st Sept on line screeninghttp://www.cultureunplugged.com/festival/storyteller/Leonardo_Cinieri_Lombroso#/myFilms
Check also our facebook and you’ll have all the updates on the screenings
https://www.facebook.com/DoriseHong/