Clinging

For a lonely young Emei warrior, martial arts is the only thing she has. Fiercely proud and determined to win, she pushes her wounded body toward another fight, only to discover that letting go of her need for victory does not mean surrendering her strength. The Emei piercers-compact weapons traditionally wielded in pairs-embody a feminist vision of martial power, transforming agility, precision and control, rather than brute strength, into female agency and self-determination.

Directed by Zhuoyi Wang (China)