International premiere
The Watchman
Watchman Guangdong and his wife Baoyan have devoted their lives to their only son, Zhaohang. When he leaves China to pursue a music career at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, the couple must confront the emotional void his absence creates. Through phone calls, they try to guide Zhaohang from afar, but his journey is shaped by both his deep desire to please his beloved father and his own personal ambition.
This universal experience of parents watching their children grow and leave home resonates deeply, capturing the struggle between holding on and letting go. With breathtaking cinematography and a poignant score, this documentary offers an intimate look at cultural adaptation, familial sacrifice, and the evolving dynamics of a father-son bond in the face of separation and change.
Mike Arnott
Lou du Pontavice was born in Paris. After a year-long course in literature and a degree with two majors, philosophy and cinema (Sorbonne), she joined the INSAS film directing course in 2014 where she made both documentaries and fiction films. Most of them have one thing in common: they begin with preparatory documentary work using real characters. The fictional part – be it significant or incidental in the final film – gives her a certain freedom in the aesthetics and scenario for telling the story.
The Watchmen (2024, doc)
Victoire Bonin studied art history in Paris. After that she joined INSAS film school in Brussels. Following graduation, she made short documentary films and became a cinematographer. “The Watchmen” – co-directed with Lou du Pontavice – is her first feature-length documentary as a director. It was shot in China and Estonia.
The Watchmen (2024, doc)