Film Lens
Three Sisters is a 2012 documentary directed by Wang Bing that focuses on three young sisters aged between four and ten living in a small village near the Sino-Burmese border. The film portrays their daily lives after being abandoned by their mother while their father seeks work in a nearby city. The girls are shown working in the fields and navigating their village environment, reflecting their struggle for survival in a poverty-stricken area.
The father eventually returns with plans to take his daughters to the city but decides to leave the oldest sister in the care of their grandfather. The film captures the stark realities of rural life in Yunnan province and presents an intimate view of the sisters' existence, emphasizing their self-reliance and the impact of their family circumstances on their lives.
Why Watch
- •See the daily lives of three sisters in rural China.
- •Meet director Wang Bing's unique documentary style.
- •Find out how poverty affects childhood in Yunnan province.
Did You Know
•The film premiered at the 69th Venice International Film Festival in 2012.
•The sisters are aged between four and ten years old.
•An abridged version of the film was released under the title Alone in 2013.
•The film received the Orizzonti Award at the Venice Film Festival.
Perfect For
Documentary enthusiastsSocial issue advocatesFans of Chinese cinema