Borders Closed, History Rebuilt: A SOIL A CULTURE A RIVER A PEOPLE Premieres at Venice

Citizen Yu wanders a replica of 1980s Hannover in Viv Li’s dystopian vision.

What if the only way to experience another culture was through a fabricated past? That’s the unsettling premise of A SOIL A CULTURE A RIVER A PEOPLE, the new feature from director Viv Li. Set in a future where borders between nations are permanently closed, citizens are forced to wander a replica of 1980s Hannover to glimpse fragments of the Western world.

Premiering at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in the Orizzonti Short Film Competition, the film blends dystopian fiction with documentary textures, shot entirely on 16mm film.

Viv Li, whose previous short Across the Water was nominated for the Short Film Palme d’Or at Cannes and won the Lights On Women’s Worth Award (presented by L’Oréal Paris in 2024), continues to push cinematic boundaries with this Germany–Belgium–China co-production.

In this haunting vision, Citizen Yu explores the artificial city—nostalgic yet chaotic, both eerie and strangely alive. He appears fearless, observing humanity’s imperfections as if they were new discoveries. But what is he really seeing? And how will this distorted glimpse of history shape his view of the future?

ABOUT A SOIL A CULTURE A RIVER A PEOPLE

In a dystopian future where borders between countries are indefinitely closed, a replica of Hannover becomes the only way to experience Western culture. Citizen Yu roams around this nostalgic yet chaotic and eerie town built by unknown authorities. He seems so different, observant, and fearless, as if the imperfection of humanity is all new to him. But what does he really see? And what will he feel about the future he is living in?

ABOUT DIRECTOR VIV LI

Viv Li is a Chinese filmmaker and artist based in Berlin. Born and raised in Beijing, Viv spent the past 15 years living in Europe, South America and Southeast Asia. She holds a master degree in Directing from DocNomads and a bachelor degree in Drama and Films from the University of Manchester. Viv participated in Sundance Institute, Berlinale Talents, Locarno Residency, Chicken & Egg, IDFAcademy, Pop-up Residency and received the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship. Her narrative short, ACROSS THE WATERS, was nominated for the Short Film Palme d’Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival and won the Lights On Women’s Worth Award, presented by Elle Fanning. It was purchased by ARTE and supported by CNC. Her most recent work, A SOIL A CULTURE A RIVER A PEOPLE, is competing for the Orizzonti Best Short Film Award at the 82nd Venice Film Festival. Her short documentary, I DON’T FEEL AT HOME ANYWHERE ANYMORE, was awarded a Jury Special Mention at IDFA among 8 international awards. Currently, Viv is working on her debut feature supported by Sundance Institute, Berlinale Talents and Chicken&Egg pictures, set to premiere in 2026.

Venice International Film Festival 2025 – Screenings

Thursday, September 4 – 17:00 Sala Giardino (Public)

Written and Directed by Viv Li

Produced by Viv Li, Julian Schwandner

Co-Produced by Marc Goyens, Carlotta Cornehl

Starring Zezhi Long