Swallowtail & Dragonfly

Attractive, intelligent and gifted and one of China's most famous female painters and poets, Lianxia "Ziyi" Zhou, and her talented husband, Wanping Xu, took Shanghai by storm in the 1930's as a part of an iconic circle of famous artists and writers that included the world-famous Chang Dai-chien, Xu Beihong, Xu Zhimo, Jiang Biwei, Lu Xiaoman, Wu Hufan, Bertrand Russell and Pearl Buck. They redefied the conventions of the time and shaped the cultural path China has followed to this day. But, when the world around them erupted into war, a cruel twist of fate tears Ziyi and Wanping apart and plunges her and their five children into dire straits that left them struggling to survive. Walking in beauty, with a heart inspired by art and the love for her country and her missing husband to sustain her, Ziyi kept her family and her dreams alive in a nation ravaged by war and political strife. Until a miracle happened.

Directed by Julia Jay Pierrepont III, Swallowtail & Dragonfly leans on a strong ensemble — Vanessa Yao, Vivian Dawson, Albert Lew — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 0.