Oxhide (2005)

In the throbbing heart of Beijing, within the constricting walls of a cramped apartment, unfolds the epic saga of a working-class Chinese family's struggle and survival. This intimate, unfiltered portrait, crafted by the audacious filmmaker, Liu Jiayin, blurs the line between reality and fiction as she casts herself and her parents as dramatized versions of their own lives. Liu Zaiping, a dwindling leather bag merchant, finds himself on the brink of bankruptcy. His persistent arguments with his wife, Jia Huifen, and their daughter on strategies to revive their ailing business create a tense atmosphere, permeated with an anxiety that invades their sleepless nights in a shared bed. Yet, amidst the ceaseless adversities of urban life, a stirring testament of Chinese family unity emerges, painting a poignant image of familial love and resilience. Shot on a shoestring budget with an acute sense of ingenuity, Liu Jiayin's groundbreaking debut, filmed when she was merely 23, is composed of twenty-three one-scene static shots within their compact fifty square meter home. Her handheld DV camera often focuses on fragmented images of her subjects, their voices echoing over the soundtrack, creating a sense of claustrophobic intimacy. 'Oxhide' (2005) is an authentic and deeply moving exploration of the human spirit within the confines of a small space.

Oxhide is a drama movie featuring Jia Huifen.

Oxhide is currently streaming on OVID.

It is also possible to buy Oxhide on Amazon Video.