Preview by Jon Donnis
Swallowtail & Dragonfly tells the remarkable true story of Chinese artist Lianxia ‘Ziyi’ Zhou, following her journey from a young woman fighting against the restrictions of early 20th Century China to a celebrated artist whose life is transformed by love, war and revolution.
Written and directed by Julia Jay Pierrepont III, the period drama is produced by Zhou’s granddaughter Evelyn Xu. The film stars Vanessa Yao, Vivian Dawson, Russell Wong, Jim Lau and Cici Lau, and arrives in the UK following an award-winning run on the festival circuit.
The story begins in 1914, when Ziyi's adventurous spirit is constrained by a cruel stepmother and the patriarchal expectations of the time. Her circumstances change when she is given the rare opportunity to study under some of China's most prominent painting masters, an honour previously reserved for men.
Her talent soon opens doors, allowing Ziyi to establish herself within Shanghai's dazzling art scene. It is there that she meets photographer Wanping Xu, played by Dawson, and the two fall in love. Their creative partnership and glamorous lifestyle bring them into a circle of prominent international artists and creatives.
But their happiness is shattered by the outbreak of World War II. Separated from Xu, Ziyi is left to raise their five children in increasingly desperate circumstances as war and political upheaval transform the country around them.
Refusing to give up hope of being reunited with the man she loves, Ziyi fights to keep her family together while continuing to paint. Her determination becomes central to a story about love, survival and the ability to hold on to a sense of identity when everything else is being taken away.
Swallowtail & Dragonfly promises a moving portrait of a woman who forged her own path in a world determined to limit her choices. With its sweeping historical backdrop and deeply personal story, the film offers a glimpse into a remarkable life shaped by both extraordinary success and devastating adversity.
Swallowtail & Dragonfly makes its UK digital debut on 14 September 2026, courtesy of Miracle Media.
Apple TV - https://apple.co/3TphLgV
