Yumeng He’s short documentary ‘The Other Side of the Mountain’ feels like a tenderly written letter. It is an evocative, deeply personal, and undeniably intimate film that would make its world premiere at the 2024 International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam.

As she captures her father’s journey to locate his childhood home in Southwestern China, filmmaker, Yumeng He weaves a narrative that resonates with themes of identity, change, and generational bonds. The journey, inspired by her grandmother’s wish, unfolds in a city that was once familiar to her father but has since been reshaped by time and development.

The streets of Chongqing bear the marks of history yet wear the unfamiliar face of modernity. You see both the new developments as well as the signs of the old which is the past and heritage of the small town. Yumeng’s lens also captures her father’s search with a nuanced sensitivity as you can see his reactions to the industrialisation that has taken over but still has left behind some scars of the past. As he speaks with her 90-year-old grandmother on a video call, it is poignant to know that she too is eager to reconnect with a place that holds dear to her and her past. This particular scene seems to emphasize that these ties or connections to our history bind us across generations.

Visually, the film is a masterpiece of composition and detail. Each frame is crafted with intention, evoking a painter’s touch. You can tell that Yumeng is being deliberate in every shot or movement of the camera. This adds to the immersiveness of the film.

Another thing that works well for the film is its reflective pacing. It keeps an almost soothing tone rather than being upbeat and fast-paced. However, at just about 20 minutes it leaves you with a lot to contemplate. The film delicately skims the surface of its themes rather than diving deep.

But ultimately, ‘The Other Side of the Mountain’ is a triumph of personal storytelling. Yumeng He’s ability to balance her father’s intimate narrative with broader cultural and historical insights is extraordinary in this simple but creative documentary film. And even after it ends, it lingers, much like a cherished memory, carrying whispers of its themes long after the screen fades to black.

Rating – 4/5