Leftover Women (2019)
3.8 of 5 from 45 ratings
1h 23min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
In China, the term "leftover women" is like "old maid", only more insulting, and definitely full of blame. The harsh title of this documentary says a lot about the issue it tackles: the governmental, social and internal pressure to marry that is put on young women in China today, where any unmarried woman 27 or older might be labeled "leftover". Unfortunately, the film only sporadically sheds light on the intriguing, and for Westerners potentially eye-opening, subject it sets out to explore. Here they focus on three women in Beijing. Qiu Hua Mei is a 34-year-old lawyer deeply conflicted about whether she wants to marry at all. She is the only character who becomes truly complex and gripping. Xu Min is a 28-year-old radio host and Gai Qi a 36-year-old college professor of film and television. Sometimes these other stories seem included only for balance, and sometimes they feel like filler. All three are victims of a similar social landscape. As opening text explains, because there are many more men than women in China, unmarried women are expected to do their part for the future by pairing up. Professional women are considered especially selfish. The text describes this situation without any attribution. The film's most severe problem is its sketchiness about context and about the realities of Chinese society. It does better at trailing along as the women experience pressure from all sides, especially from their own families. - Actors:
- Hua Mei Qiu, Min Xu, Qi Gai
- Directors:
- Shosh Shlam, Hilla Medalia
- Producers:
- Hilla Medalia, Shosh Shlam, Cindy Zeng Xin, Jialing Zhang
- Writers:
- Hilla Medalia, Shosh Shlam
- Genres:
- Documentary, Special Interest
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