Reunited

Directed by Paco Wen

Filming Location: Chaozhou, Guangdong

In 2012, during my fifth year of elementary school, my grandmother passed away. My usually taciturn grandfather surprised me one day by saying, "It's been so long that she hasn't visited me in a dream."

Those words stayed with me for a long time. As I grew older and became more observant, I gradually realized the deep connection between the world of the living and the realm of the departed, especially for the land that nurtured me and the elders. At that time, I was just a child with a limited concept of life and death, and my grandmother's departure was my first experience of losing a close relative.

Later, I went to Beijing for university study. One year, when I returned home, I was met with a disheartening sight—the once-familiar Tianzhong Village, where I spent my childhood, had undergone significant demolition. A new road cut across its chest, and our old house no longer existed. An intrusive road now dissected its core, erasing the existence of our cherished old house.

Surrounded by hastily constructed buildings, I found myself disoriented in a place I once knew so well. It was a pivotal moment, as I, someone who had long yearned to escape my hometown, felt a sudden desire to weave a narrative intertwined with this vanishing setting.

In 2023, I channeled a lifetime of memories and reflections about my hometown, Chaoshan, into a film titled "Reunited". This project became an effort of love, as I dedicated myself wholeheartedly to its birth. With the blessings of my grandmother and the invaluable support of numerous supporters, we persevered and successfully brought this film to fruition.

I am grateful for this incredible journey and the individuals I crossed paths with, whose impact on my life remains immeasurable despite never having met them face to face. Much like the Han River, the lifeblood of my hometown, this film serves as a reflection of the past and a glimpse into the future.

《锦鲤，锦鲤》

温柏高 导演作品

【拍摄地】广东潮州

【导演手记】

2012，小学五年级，外婆去世。寡言的外公在之后的某天突然蹦出一句：“这么久了，没有托个梦来。”

我记住了这句话很久。随着成长和观察，我逐渐意识到，对生养我的这片土地和长辈们来说，阴阳界的连接是贯穿在日常里的。而那时候的我，还是一个对生死没什么概念的孩子，外婆也是我生命中第一个离开的亲人。

2019，大学一年级，进京，入学，放假，回家。田中村经历大规模拆迁，一条全新的大马路横穿它的胸膛，老宅不复存在，取而代之的是一栋没有任何特点的小洋房。

看着周遭四起的自建楼，我第一次在熟悉的村中迷失了方向。从小就想要逃离家乡的我，开始想讲一个和这里有关的故事。

2023，我把所有从童年汇聚到今天的、有关老家潮汕的思绪，都注入到了这部《锦鲤，锦鲤》的剧本里，并为它的落地付出了最大的心力。带着得到外婆加持的祈愿，和对众多贵人相助的感激，我们最终顺利完成了拍摄。

感恩这期间所有发生过的事，邂逅到的人，和不曾谋面亦发生着作用力的一切。就像身在片中的韩江、我所在小城的母亲河一样，这次创作，是溯往的，也是展望的。

责编 | 王楠
校对 | 周勇