Récompenses

"This is a highly coherent work in terms of audiovisual aesthetics, integrating the regional characteristics of Xinjiang with the portrayal of characters. The director and his camera gently observe the young Kazakh boy's affection for a Han Chinese girl during the summer, bringing to the audience a beautiful yet melancholic fairy tale."

"This film is a beautifully cinematic introduction to Kazakh culture, caught between tradition and modernity, told with subtle awareness through the eyes and voice of a young boy. It's a visually astonishing coming-of-age narrative, with great attention to minute details and carefully arranged composition in both still and moving shots."

"THE BOTANIST uses a childhood friendship to illustrate political tensions in present-day China in an impressive way. The story revolves around the relationship between Arsin, a Kazakh boy, and Meiyu, a Han Chinese girl, who grow up together in a remote village in Xinjiang, a region where ethnic tensions, especially toward the Uyghurs, are palpable. When Meiyu moves to Shanghai, Arsin is left behind, confronted with loneliness, loss, and feelings of abandonment. The two young lead actors deserve special mention for their performances, which are exceptionally natural and emotionally profound. Their sensitive portrayals never seem staged, but always authentic. This creates an emotional closeness that characterizes the film and allows the audience to form a strong connection with the characters. We greatly appreciated the impressively beautiful cinematography, including the balanced composition and nostalgic colors. The stable camera work and unhurried montage perfectly reflect the slow world of the young botanist. THE BOTANIST is the debut dramatic film by a young Chinese director, presenting an authentic vision of the world through the perspective of a child. The director invents a new way of storytelling, using a unique style with original choices and symbolism that often speak louder than words. This film was independently produced and made without a large budget, but these limitations did not limit the space for creative freedom and intimacy. All these points make the relationship between Arsin and Meiyu a mirror of social tensions and, at the same time, a powerful symbol of quiet hope: for closeness, understanding, and humanity beyond ethnic boundaries. With a keen sense of personal experiences and structural realities, the director has created a deeply moving debut film - a quiet, powerful appeal for childlike empathy. To us, THE BOTANIST is the deserving winner."