The Story

Aimee works in London as a freelance photographer after graduating from university, while her best friend Mira goes on to pursue a PhD degree. One day woken up by the notification sound of a barrage of messages, Aimee learns of Mira’s disappearance. Throughout the day, she tries all the methods she could think of to get hold of Mira but to no avail. And her memory of their day out together three weeks ago becomes blurrier as time passes. Being busy at work and reuniting with her flatmate Mandy only make Aimee feel lonelier and more afraid of a world without Mira...

Follow our journey of turning this friendship story into a 22-minute short film:

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Director's Statement

by Emma Nan Hu

We don't suddenly grow up when we hit 18 or 21. We grow up, through tears and heartbreaks, when we finally learn to take control of what we can and let go of what we can't. Although my first 20 years was spent in China, I feel that London is the place where I grew into an ‘adult’. Unfortunately for Aimee, this film is leading to the moment for her to ‘grow up’. And the audience would become aware of this before she does.

Through Aimee’s eyes, the audience will see two different sides of London. One side is illustrated in the ‘memory’ where Aimee revisits the idyllic day she spent with her best friend Mira 3 weeks ago. Here we see the vibrant international cultural hub, which the audience would recognise, through the iconic locations of the capital. The other side is the ‘reality’ where Aimee learns of Mira’s disappearance and tries all the methods she could think of to get hold of Mira in this cold, lonely - and all too familiar - metropolis. 

Growing up as an only child, I always saw my friends as the siblings I never had. Female friendship is the closest thing to sisterhood, but what makes it fundamentally different is the ‘boundary’ that is so delicate. These boundaries Aimee, Mira and Mandy try very hard to keep add burdens on their friendships, though by the end of the film the true meaning of friendship is revealed and these girls are brought closer than ever.

As a filmmaker, I want to tell powerful stories that resonate with audiences regardless of their family heritage. However, due to my own cross-cultural background, I do have a sense of obligation to provide a different perspective of the Chinese community in the UK for future generations of audiences. By making this film, I hope to deliver an authentic self-representation by portraying three nuanced female characters of Chinese ethnicity on screen.