Apple Celebrating Chinese New Year With Heartwarming Short Film, Today at Apple Sessions, and Gift Guide

[MacRumors]

Apple has shared a heartwarming short film about three generations of Chinese women coming together for the Chinese New Year. The video, starring leading Chinese actress Zhou Xun, was shot on the iPhone 11 Pro.

Prominently featured on Apple's website in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, the short film was directed by Academy Award nominee Theodore Melfi, with cinematography by Golden Globe Award nominee Lawrence Sher.

Apple has also shared a Chinese New Year gift guide on its website in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore.

Likewise, Apple Stores are celebrating the Chinese New Year with a series of special "Today at Apple" sessions called "Modern Traditions" through February 8 in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. "Breathe new life into local traditions through photography and more in fun hands-on sessions for the whole family."

This year, the Chinese New Year falls on January 25.

Article Link: Apple Celebrating Chinese New Year With Heartwarming Short Film, Today at Apple Sessions, and Gift Guide

 

[Redbeard25]

Y'all buried the lede!

The video is amazing, sure, but here's the "Making of:" (probably also shot on an iPhone or two.)

[automerge]1578927154[/automerge]

 

[Mr. Dee]

It’s just astounding something that fits in your pocket can record a film. I would say you are delusional back in 2000.

 

[TJ82]

Really beautiful, quite moving.

 

[RowellE]

This was beautiful. My jaw was on the floor and I was in tears at the end. Story kinda reminds me of Finding Dory.

I also love the title of the short, “Daughter.” At first I thought it was referencing the toddler in the film. It still could be. It could be about two different people in the short, so I found it such a clever title.

 

[Ronlap]

Has anyone actually watched the video? It's a real tear-jerker in the best Pixar-style storytelling tradition. And there is no "sucking up" anywhere in it.

 

[citysnaps]

This short film ad is superb - imo, Apple's absolute best.

And I really like the vid that followed showing how it was made.

 

[mannyvel]

It should be "Lunar New Year." Other countries celebrate that particular new year event, not just China.

 

[cql]

The Chinese New Year or also know as the lunar new year to other Asian country is the largest holiday celebration. It’s a big deal If you are Asian.

 

[elelunicy]

It should be "Lunar New Year." Other countries celebrate that particular new year event, not just China.

There are many different lunar calendars out there. Calling Chinese New Year “Lunar New Year” is disrepectful to other cultures that have their own lunar New Year on different dates.

 

[MAH11]

In which city was this filmed? Very nice cinematography.

 

[albusseverus]

And here was I thinking how American the story seemed. Could have been shot in the US, with any ethnic setting, including Caucasian. American capitalist exploitation exported to China, not sucking up to China at all.

Tedious and schmaltzy. You’d have to be watching for the cinematography and the ‘making of’, the film itself was a big yawn.

I'm no fan of crashemup shootemup films (snow brawl anyone?), but this thing bored me to tears.

This seems as tone deaf as persisting with Siri’s annoying personality. I can’t believe Microsoft got the Cortona personality so right and Siri makes me want to smash the device, every time.

These Apple promos are overlong and overindulgent. Doesn’t bode well for tv+ does it?

 

[tsung3]

“春”, the worst visual art I’ve seen from Apple recently.

 

[jpn]

try to open one's currently shut-hard minds and understand the world's peoples' and cultures' amazing and varied conditions.

this video was powerful...
having lived in China for 7 years, it really captured the subtleties of relationships (between new generation '80s born estranged daughter and mother; between mother and daughter. the expressions of the various people who sit in her taxi and how they interact with the woman and her daughter).
the architecture captured modern china's contradictions as well.
really loved this video...

 

[Bandaman]

“* *”, the worst visual art I’ve seen from Apple recently.

Do you hate human beings, love, and compassion? Because that’s what this is all about. And to be bothered or offended by it in any capacity is simply mind boggling ... and repulsive.

 

[tsung3]

Do you hate human beings, love, and compassion? Because that’s what this is all about. And to be bothered or offended by it in any capacity is simply mind boggling ... and repulsive.

I was saying the graphic art of the Chinese word “Spring” doesn’t look good. What are you talking about?

 

[Bandaman]

I was saying the graphic art of the Chinese word “Spring” doesn’t look good. What are you talking about?

My apologies. The way this thread was steering made it seem like you meant something else. But now that you mention it, that symbol does look absolutely terrible. Reminds me of that old pipe screensaver on Windows.

 

[chiamac]

Beautifully shot. Cinematography done by Lawrence Sher who also did Joker.

 

[tjxism]

In which city was this filmed? Very nice cinematography.

It’s Chong Qing. One of the most “instagramable” city (in a good way) in China. Hope you can be there and see for yourself.
In fact, all three of Apple’s CNY commercial movies are shot in the same city. Tho this year’s work is lacking a bit of emotion, it’s truly graphically astonishing.

 

[Rene Bos]

try to open one's currently shut-hard minds and understand the world's peoples' and cultures' amazing and varied conditions.
empathy and love in the age of trump needs all the help we can give it.

this video was powerful.
having lived in China for 7 years, it really captured the subtleties of relationships (between new generation '80s born estranged daughter and mother; between mother and daughter. the expressions of the various people who sit in her taxi and how they interact with the woman and her daughter).
the architecture captured modern china's contradictions as well.
really loved this video.

Very well put! Signed, a China veteran.

 

[MAH11]

It’s Chong Qing. One of the most “instagramable” city (in a good way) in China. Hope you can be there and see for yourself.
In fact, all three of Apple’s CNY commercial movies are shot in the same city. Tho this year’s work is lacking a bit of emotion, it’s truly graphically astonishing.

Thanks! Another place on the bucket list and very close to Chengdu as well.

 

[polterbyte]

beautiful story, very well told, very well executed, technically speaking.

 

[konqerror]

“* *”, the worst visual art I’ve seen from Apple recently.

They're trying to say you can do traditional Chinese calligraphy with the Apple Pencil and some random brush they found in an iPad app, so please buy more iPads.