She Sat There Like All Ordinary Ones
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Polish premiereTheatrical Screenings
Kinoteka 3
Kinoteka 1
Film description
One impulsive decision changes everything for Zhuang, a reserved high school student. When his classmate Meng, a talented but distant runner, steals a starting pistol, Zhuang takes the blame without any hesitation. He expects a connection to form between them, but Meng grows unexpectedly colder, leaving Zhuang disoriented and yearning for understanding. Desperate to reach her, he decides to join the track team – even at the expense of his studies – plunging into the confusing mix of youthful desire and academic pressure. As he races toward an uncertain future, Zhuang discovers that growing up means more than simply keeping pace…
Directed by Qu Youjia, "She Sat There Like All Ordinary Ones" is an intimate exploration of adolescence, set against the backdrop of modern China’s high-pressure education system, where societal expectations add layers of pressure on young people. With his minimalist style, Qu crafts a deeply personal reflection on youth, identity, and the small yet profound moments that shape who we become. How can one find where to stand when everything around seems to be racing ahead?
text:
Sara Carotenuto
Youjia Qu
Qu Youjia, born in 1990, studied at the Beijing Film Academy and the Rhode Island School of Design, blending Chinese and Western cinematic influences in his work. He gained early acclaim for his short films Meijing and Together Apart, the latter winning Best Short Film at the FIRST International Film Festival. "She Sat There Like All Ordinary Ones" marks the director's feature film debut and premiered at Berlinale, where it received the Generation 14plus Special Mention Award.
2017 Meijing (short)
2019 Together apart (short)
2024 Siedziała jak każda inna/Kai Shi De Qiang/ She Sat There Like All Ordinary Ones
