Lotus (2012 Chinese Film)

Lotus, also known by its Chinese title Xiao He (小荷), is a 2012 Chinese drama film written, directed, and produced by Shu Liu.

Promotional still for the film Lotus featuring a character in a domestic setting — Promotional still from the 2012 Chinese drama Lotus.

Plot

Xiao He is a free-spirited teacher working in a village in Northern China who favors experiential learning over strict rules. Her unconventional approach alienates her colleagues, and she is forced to leave the school after it is discovered that her lover is a married man. She relocates to Beijing to work as a journalist, but eventually takes a job as a waitress due to professional conflicts. Faced with financial pressure, she considers accepting the advances of a wealthy man, while a rejected policeman attempts to obstruct her ambitions.

Production and Release

The film was directed, written, and produced by Shu Liu, with cinematography by Zheng Yi. It has a runtime of 90 minutes, is spoken in Mandarin, and originates from China. Lotus had its world premiere on September 5, 2012, at the 69th Venice Film Festival during the International Critics' Week.

Cast

Zhuo Tan as Xiao He
Kang Luo as the policeman
Zhongyu Guo as the student
Mingzhe Xu as Liu Xiangdong