Was I Easier to Love?
Synopsis
Through a song and letter, a queer Chinese-American daughter finds words for the love and distance shaping her connection with her mother. As she grows, she struggles with cultural expectations, identity, and everything left unsaid between them. In finding her own voice, she begins to understand where she comes from—and where she’s meant to go.
The doc has been screened at 13 film festivals all over the Germany and even abroad. It has won a total of 5 awards.
Director's Statement
This film is deeply personal to me—it tells the story of my girlfriend and me. We both use art to process our emotions, and making this documentary felt almost therapeutic.
It started as a course exercise at the European Film College, during which I spent a month in Shanghai. My girlfriend and I worked closely to make the film as raw and honest as possible, hoping to connect with queer people facing similar struggles.
Crew
Kaya Hansen: Writing, Directing, Camera, Edit, Sound
Angela Guo: Protagonist, Music, Sound
The full film is currently only publicly available to rent here: