‘Living The Land’ opens in Brazil on February 5

Berlin Silver Bear winner, Living The Land opens in Brazilian theaters on February 5, 2026, distributed by Autoral Filmes.

Set in rural China in 1991, the drama follows 10-year-old Chuang, who stays in his hometown as neighbors leave for big cities in search of better prospects. As the third child in his family, he navigates everyday life while sweeping national changes reshape the community around him.

Known in Chinese as “Sheng Xi Zhi Di,” the film is director Huo Meng’s second feature and premiered in the main competition at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. There, Meng won the Silver Bear for Best Director.

A look at rural China in the 1990s

The story is grounded in a turning point when economic reforms and technological shifts rapidly reached the countryside. Industrial machines began replacing manual labor, and new demands tied to production changed how land and resources were understood and used.

According to Huo Meng, the film tracks how that historical moment reverberated through traditions, emotions, and relationships. “The film explores the profound impact of this historical moment on the traditions, emotions, and relationships of the Chinese people. Like an unstoppable wind, these changes swept through every aspect of life,” he says.

He adds that he wanted to show the collision between collectivist social policies and customs shaped over millennia. “I wanted to portray how, when collectivist social policies collided with traditions shaped over thousands of years, people were forced to adapt in ways that challenged their own way of life,” the filmmaker notes.

Meng also highlights the pressures faced by women during that period. “I also felt it was important to portray the immense pressures women endured—both socially and physically—that left lasting and irreversible damage,” he says.

International response and reviews

With a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Living The Land has drawn strong reviews since its premiere. The Hollywood Reporter praised its precision and beauty in depicting a remote farming community, while Screen Daily called it “immersive and ambitious.” IndieWire described the film as “extremely beautiful and absorbing.”

Service

Film: Living The Land (“Sheng Xi Zhi Di”)

Director: Huo Meng

Genre: Drama

Year: 2025

Running time: 129 minutes

Age rating: please check local classification

Brazilian theatrical release: February 5, 2026

Distribution: Autoral Filmes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autoral_filmes/

Photo credit: Autoral Filmes