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UNDER THE BURNING SUN
A FILM BY YUN XIE
PLAY TRAILER
In a barren, desolate land where abortion is outlawed, Mowanza struggles with her unwanted pregnancy. When she hears of a distant land with a lenient abortion policy, Mowanza, armed with only a half-empty water bottle and a battered car, embarks on a journey across the desert towards the lush land of Iropus.
WRITER/DIRECTOR
YUN XIE
PRODUCED BY
AARON YU
JERA WANG
2025 // 75 MINS
Drama, Adventure
PRESS
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER - Oldenburg’s Audacity Award
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER - Oldenburg Five Can’t-Miss Movies
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER - Oldenburg Lineup
Indie Wire - Slamdance Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature
Indie Wire - 16 Slamdance Films to Check Out
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FilmSnobReviews - James Snyder
Screen Anarchy - Kurt Halfyard
Film Focus on Line - Romey Norton
Movies We Texted About - Interview
SHORT BIOGRAPHY
Born In Shanxi, China, based In Los Angeles. She initially started telling stories as a journalist before going on to study Theater Directing at the Shanghai Theater Academy and Film Directing at the School Of Visual Arts in NYC.
Yun's directorial debut film, The Still Life, co-written with Oscar-winning screenwriter Alexander Dinelaris, won the Remi Award at the WorldFest Houston International Film Festival. In 2016, she co-directed the feature film, Truth or Dare, which was nominated for Best Picture at the Syracuse International Film Festival. Her short film, Pier Las Vegas, was invited to several international film festivals including the FIRST International Film Festival Xining. On The non-fiction side, her documentary series, Why We Dance, was an Official Selection at the St.Louis International Film Festival and American Documentary Film Festival. Yun was also awarded “Top Ten Outstanding Chinese American Youth” in the Los Angeles Post.
ABOUT
STEPHANIE PARDI AS "MOWANZA"
Early 20s, haggard, a lone wolf at the end of her rope. Years of mistreatments and assaults from men had left her numb and mistrusting. Yet, even within the unbearable wasteland where she resides, she finds glimmers of hope within the few women she encounters, and gives her the strength to escape the hellhole she once called home.
STEVIE KIN AS "MAVIS"
40s, unkempt and drained. Though she works as a car mechanic, her labor-intensive job isn't the source of her misery- it's the violence and abuse from her husband. She is worn down to her bones by her grim life.
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MADELINE MA SHARRETT AS "MILLIE"
5-6, innocent and optimistic. Her parents abandoned her on the side of the road. She dislikes the idea of returning to her family. Somehow, she already understands that going back to her old life will only leave her lonely again.
STARRING
IMAGES
HIDDEN WARRIOR
