Such is the case with Citizen Jia Li – a unique pop culture film detailing the hardship and struggles of being an underprivileged citizen, all alone in a new country.
The story tells of Jia (Chun Kee Claudia Teh), who loses both her job and her home in one day. Despite having moved to Australia to start a better life, nothing as a new citizen is turning out quite as she expected. Over three days, she will struggle against fears and enemies to find her identity, all with the support of her friend Daisy (Susanna Qian) – a half Chinese, half Japanese ‘Harajuku’ girl who is coming to terms with her own mixed nationality.
And like any true “self discovery” movie, there is an underlying love story. Kind of. Jia’s ex, Kong, goes on a pursuit to get Jia back, searching all around Melbourne for her. If that isn’t genuine romance, I just don’t know what is.
Fresh from its world premier at the Phoenix Comicon Film Festival in the USA, Citizen Jia Li is coming to a home for its Australian premier at the 2011 Melbourne Underground Film Festival.
