17-year-old Ying Ling is a trainee mortician in one of China’s largest funeral homes. She delicately treats the motionless corpses, terrified of the spirits that might be lurking in the long corridors. Her work is made bearable through the camaraderie of a colleague, but when he leaves Ying Ling is forced to face the daunting job alone. This documentary is a tender portrait of a vibrant young woman approaching adulthood in a place filled with final farewells, in a time when new philosophies are fast overtaking age-old traditions.
Director Carol Salter will join us for a Q&A following the screening.