The acclaimed filmmaking duo Huang Ji and Otsuka Ryuji are completing their new feature film “A Woman Builds,” a multilingual drama exploring themes of independence, identity, and belonging in contemporary Asia.
Huang and Otsuka previously collaborated on “Stonewalling” (2022), which premiered at Venice and won the Golden Horse Award for best narrative feature, and “The Foolish Bird” (2017), which debuted at the Berlinale.
With a budget of $622,000 and $339,000 already secured from private investors and producer participation, the project is seeking additional financing and sales partners at the Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).
The film follows Lynn, a woman living separately from her husband Kenji and daughter in China, where she pursues her dream of building a house in her hometown, now evolving into a tourist destination. Her growing attraction to a married colleague and confrontations with gender bias and bureaucracy complicate her journey, ultimately leading her to question the personal costs of her quest for independence.
“During the pandemic, my husband took our daughter to Japan for school, while I remained in Beijing on my own,” explains Huang Ji, reflecting on the film’s autobiographical elements. “During our two-and-a-half-year separation, without a house or car, I felt unanchored and anxious. But at the same time, I experienced a sense of freedom and enjoyed a pseudo-single life.”
The project represents a personal exploration for Huang, who drew inspiration from her own experiences during the pandemic. “I realized that a part of me didn’t truly want to go to Japan and live with my husband and daughter after the pandemic,” she reveals. “Meanwhile, my hometown is being partially submerged by a dam project that will soon become a major tourist destination.”
Co-director and producer Otsuka Ryuji underscores the universal appeal of the story: “The COVID-19 pandemic, wars, and immigration have separated families and displaced homes, leaving many people with a growing sense of disconnection. Through this film, I hope to bring this universal theme to a wider audience.”
The project brings together a powerhouse international production team, including Kuo Ming-Jung (founder of Island X Pictures and former program director at both Taipei Film Festival and Singapore International Film Festival) and Fran Borgia (founder of Akanga Film Asia, whose credits include the acclaimed “Stranger Eyes,” “A Land Imagined” and “Tiger Stripes”).
“When they shared the story of ‘A Woman Builds’ with me, I felt an affinity with the protagonist’s experience,” says Kuo. “Though rooted in her personal journey, this struggle is not confined to any single country; it is a universal experience that many can relate to.”
The team aims for a premiere at a major international festival. “We believe the film will secure a theatrical release in the production countries at the very least,” notes Borgia. “Our primary goal is to connect with the right audience, especially for a film that is as contemporary and necessary as this one in today’s world.”
