Nan

An extraordinarily intimate portrait in which filmmaker Peng Zuqiang follows his uncle Nan, who lives with his elderly parents, during the last two years that the three share the same house together. Nan was born with physical problems for which he requires care. His life and that of his parents mainly takes place within the four walls of a simple, small apartment in China. Their limited trips outside include grocery shopping or a visit to the therapy center where Nan is massaged and given advice on vitamins.

The filmmaker records his family’s lives with infinite patience: the gentle and touching bickering between Nan and his mother, the evenings in front of the television when time seems to stand still, and the minutes ticking by as Grandpa silently peels an apple. In long, tightly framed shots, a picture emerges of three intimately interwoven lives. A warm and at times humorous ode to informal caregiving and the strength of family ties.