Exploring the Coming-of-Age Journey in "Whispers in May"

"Whispers in May," directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Dongnan Chen, is a hybrid documentary that will premiere in the main competition at the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival (CPH:DOX) on March 15, 2026. The film follows Qihuo, a 14-year-old girl from China's remote Liangshan region, as she embarks on a road trip with two friends to purchase a skirt for her traditional "Changing skirt" ceremony. This ceremony signifies her transition to womanhood, a pivotal moment for Nuosu women in the area.

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The documentary captures the complexities of adolescence against the backdrop of the mountainous landscape that reflects the girls' inner worlds. Chen describes the mountains as both protective and isolating, symbolizing the weight of tradition and societal expectations that the girls must navigate. The film aims to portray a universal experience of the transition from girlhood to womanhood, emphasizing the fragility of this moment in life.

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Chen's approach to filmmaking diverges from the raw visual style often associated with Chinese independent documentaries. She emphasizes beauty as a means of resisting reductive portrayals of marginalized communities. "I don’t want them to look small – I don’t want the place to be labeled as poor by showing rough images," she stated. The film was shot over a month in spring 2022 without a traditional script, allowing the girls' journey to shape the narrative organically.

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"Whispers in May" was previously a Rough Cuts project at CPH:DOX in 2025 and received funding from various organizations, including the IDFA Bertha Fund, the Netherlands Film Fund, and the Swedish Film Institute. Chen is also in early development on a new project that will explore the relationship between filmmaker and subject, blending reality and fiction.

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While the film has been praised for its aesthetic choices and thematic depth, some critics may argue that the portrayal of adolescence and tradition could oversimplify the complexities faced by young women in rural China. The balance between beauty and the harsh realities of life in Liangshan remains a point of discussion among viewers and critics alike.

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• “I’ve made many wishes, but none have ever come true.” — Qihuo, Teenage Girl

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• “It’s a very simple but, to me, very powerful concept: we’re doing a road trip with the girls,” — Dongnan Chen, Director

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• “It’s also not just about beauty. Those mountains also carry weight. They protect their innocence, but they isolate them, too. The mountains carry the tradition and the norms of the local community, and that makes it a very difficult path for them to walk into the outside world.” — Dongnan Chen, Director

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• “I always think beauty is simple, but super important,” — Dongnan Chen, Director

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"Whispers in May" promises to be a poignant exploration of youth, tradition, and the journey into adulthood, resonating with audiences both locally and globally.

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