THE FUTURE WITH US

Creative Statement The film centers on traditional Chinese intangible cultural heritage elements such as Peking Opera, Tai Chi, calligraphy, and embroidery, exploring the real-life challenges of their transmission in modern society. It raises a profound question: how can traditional culture and future technology coexist and develop in balance? The film opens with a candle—a symbol of the origin of human civilization—casting light on figures dressed in pristine traditional attire, set against the backdrop of a decaying city. This stark contrast underscores the absurdity and helplessness of the situation: while traditional culture has faded from mainstream attention, its spiritual essence still perseveres. The turning point comes when an elderly Tai Chi master looks directly into the camera, embodying a quiet but resolute determination to uphold tradition. Yet, in the face of rapid societal transformation and technological advancement, traditional culture is forced to compromise—ultimately morphing into robotic forms. Though the outward appearance persists, the soul—the human sentiment—is lost. This shift metaphorically suggests that traditional culture is being replaced by the cold mechanics of technology. The film employs a visual technique of gradually narrowing the frame (using a masking effect), vividly portraying the suffocating pressure traditional culture faces in the overwhelming tide of technology. Eventually, caught in the tug-of-war between tradition and innovation, it vanishes altogether. In the final scene, the film returns to the original candlelight, leaving viewers with a satirical and open-ended question: does this faint glimmer represent an inevitable future devoid of tradition—or is it a fragile but enduring spark of hope?