A tale of murder and fear

Director Wang Xiaoshuai picks young actors for his semi-autobiographical film 11 Flowers. [Provided to China Daily]

The film 11 Flowers, by Wang Xiaoshuai, director of Beijing Bicycle, is a semi-autobiographical story set in rural Guizhou province in the later days of the "cultural revolution" (1966-76).

The mother of 11-year-old Wang Han buys him a new shirt, which he wears with pride. As news of a local murder spreads, Han unwittingly comes face to face with the killer and is forced to give him his shirt and told not to reveal his whereabouts. But unable to keep the secret, Han confides in his closest friends, drawing them into a world of fear.

This is a coming-of-age tale, infused with references to the bridge between childhood and adulthood, memories of the past and human relationships.

The film is part of a season under the Chinese Film Forum UK, a network for the research and promotion of transnational Chinese films. The network includes Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Salford, the University of Manchester, the Confucius Institute, Chinese Arts Center and Cornerhouse.

Regular screenings take place at Cornerhouse, Manchester, with special events taking place throughout the year.

Date: March 28

Venue: Cornerhouse, 70 Oxford Street, Manchester

Website: http://www.cornerhouse.org