Siyu Harmony Society
Under the Windhorse
Client Name
Siyu Harmony Society
Services
Documentary direction
Location production
Documentary editing
A return home
Made in collaboration with Siyu Harmony Society, Under the Windhorse follows a college student's return from Beijing to teach children in her home region. Her relationship with a young student, Dan Tong, gives the film a personal way into questions of education, belonging, and opportunity.
Listening to everyday life
Classroom moments, conversations, play, and the surrounding mountains let the story unfold through daily life. The film stays close to the children's expressions and small exchanges, so a wider issue is understood through people and relationships.
Michael Deng brought a crew to Sichuan for location filming, spending time in the village to document the student's return and her work with the children. The resulting film connects a wider social question to one relationship the audience can get to know.
Sharing the story
The film premiered at Catalina Film Festival and received a Best Documentary nomination at Scout Film Festival. It continues LemonTree's work with Siyu Harmony Society to bring individual stories of childhood and education to a wider audience.
Read the production story
