Get curated editors’ picks, peeks behind the scenes, film recommendations and more.
A refreshingly honest and original ‘American Dream’ story, Here, Hopefully (2023) follows Zee, a nonbinary immigrant from rural China who has recently graduated from a nursing school in the US Midwest. In an intimate portrait, the Chinese director Hao Zhou captures Zee as they study for a licencing exam that will be crucial if they’re to live the gender-affirming life that they seek, far from China’s strict gender norms. Although, as eventually becomes clear, even a high score won’t guarantee them a work visa.
Through observational filmmaking and candid interviews, the film documents Zee as they deal with the loneliness of living far from home and try, against type, to have a bit of fun outside of the grind. Understated cinematography and a fast-paced editing style evoke the anxieties and isolation of Zee’s life, forming a nuanced and sympathetic character study that touches on broader themes of global immigration, gender and mental health. The film is a part of the PBS short film series centred on ‘filmmakers of color from the American Midwest and on narratives that illuminate the living histories, cultures, and future visions of the region’.
Director: Hao Zhou
Producer: Tyler Hill
video
Technology and the self
A haunting scene from ‘Minority Report’ inspires a voyage into time and memory
7 minutes
video
Family life
The stream-of-consciousness thoughts and memories that emerge while cooking a meal
5 minutes
video
Ecology and environmental sciences
GPS tracking reveals stunning insights into the patterns of migratory birds
6 minutes
video
Human rights and justice
Can providing humanitarian aid be illegal? A troubling case from the US-Mexico border
17 minutes
video
Space exploration
The rarely told story of the fruit flies, primates and canines that preceded us in space
12 minutes
video
Film and visual culture
A lush animated opus evokes the frenzied pace of modern life
4 minutes
video
Family life
The precious family keepsakes that hold meaning for generations
10 minutes
video
Neuroscience
This intricate map of a fruit fly brain could signal a revolution in neuroscience
2 minutes
video
Archaeology
What did the first people who entered Tutankhamun’s tomb see?
5 minutes