Whispers in May
Dongnan Chen / Kina, Holland, Republic of Korea (South Korea) & Sverige / 2026 / Verdenspremiere / 92 min
The film follows 14-year-old Qinghua, who with her two close friends, sets off a journey of self-discovery.
In the remote Liangshan Mountains, 14-year-old Qinghua embarks on a roadtrip with her two besties to find a skirt for her menarche rite of passage. Grounded in reality, the film slowly evolves into a fable, captured in a spontaneous documentary style that allows its young protagonists to fully embody their roles within the film’s space. As the roadtrip goes beyond social norms and unfolds into a spiritual voyage, Whispers in May clings to the last moment of childhood in a cinematic time capsule.