Swallowtail & Dragonfly is a dramatic biopic about one of China’s most notable female poets and painters, Lianxia “Ziyi” Zhou (Vanessa Yao), who lived through an era of defining moments and changes in Chinese history. From her childhood, Ziyi’s creative gift was evident, especially to her father, who had two wives, one of whom was sinister and unsupportive of Ziyi. However, Ziyi’s talent was undeniable, and during the 1930s in Shanghai, she was on the rise, with her work gaining recognition.
With the ability to respect Chinese history and culture while incorporating modern and contemporary philosophy into her work, Ziyi was supported by her husband, Wanping Xu (Vivian Dawson), a talented photographer with whom she had five children. Living a prominent life in Shanghai, Ziyi was very active among a renowned group of writers and artists and appeared to be part of high-society circles, yet she was a feminist who did not hold back her views and was respected. She had a beautiful and fulfilling life of prestige and honor until the war.
Thrown into poverty after Wanping never returned from a business trip, Ziyi had to care for her mother and children and survive as a teacher, painting water basins for the government, which became one of her most well-known artistic efforts, even though her work was highly acclaimed and collected. Beaten to the point of losing her sight, Ziyi struggled to survive in a war-torn, politically shifting China where most collected fine art was seized by the state.
“Thrown into poverty after Wanping never returned from a business trip, Ziyi had to care for her mother and children.”
However, many years later, in a twist of fate, Wanping was able to reconnect with Ziyi and bring her and their family to America, where they lived out the rest of their lives into their 90s. An epic love story, Swallowtail & Dragonfly is a piece of history about a fearless woman whose story mirrors a country in change that may never again have such beauty—yet Ziyi did in California.
Writer and director Julia Jay Pierrepont III provides a detailed account of Ziyi’s life and times, with all eyes on Vanessa Yao even as she aged. A time-telling tale about China, from its ancient, misogynistic cultural ways to the acceptance of contemporary life and the importance of art, the film consistently explores its connection to nature.
The soundtrack honors Chinese music, and the production value matches it. Swallowtail & Dragonfly is an interesting story about an important woman who created remarkable art that remains highly collectible today. It is also a classic love story of love found and lost, and of survival, only this time it is true, with a well-deserved ending, especially given that Ziyi’s granddaughter is one of the film’s producers.
A tad slow, with some forced acting, Swallowtail & Dragonfly showcases its global collaborative filmmaking effort and gives Ziyi her long-overdue recognition in history.
