In their first major project since entering into a working collaborative relationship, production houses brother and RadicalMedia turned out this short film titled Daughter for Apple in celebration of the Chinese New Year. Directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker (Hidden Figures) Theodore Melfi and starring Zhou Xun, one of China’s leading actresses, Daughter is part of Apple’s “Shot on iPhone” series highlighting the filmmaking capabilities of the iPhone 11 Pro. Lawrence Sher, ASC–who’s work on Joker recently earned him a Best Cinematography Oscar nomination–lensed Daughter, capturing sweeping panoramas, intimate closeups and single take ultra wide flashbacks, demonstrating the imagery prowess of the iPhone.
Created by TBWAMedia Arts Lab Shanghai, Daughter is an emotional story of a taxi driver’s (Xun) complicated relationship with the two most important women in her life, her young daughter and her estranged mother. The film examines the changing social norms in China and reflects on the generational differences between traditional families and modern youth. The intergenerational film is a touching drama of family reconnecting for the Chinese New Year.