Invisible Chengdu Trilogy (2013–2017)
Invisible Chengdu Trilogy is a Chinese LGBTQ+ short film collection by award-winning filmmakers Roberto F. Canuto and Xu Xiaoxi — a cornerstone of contemporary independent queer cinema.
Composed of Ni Jing: Thou Shalt Not Steal (2013), Floating Melon (2015), and Sunken Plum (2017), the trilogy portrays hidden lives and silenced identities in modern China through a poetic and deeply human lens.
Exploring gender, sexuality, tradition, and social repression, these films challenge censorship and cultural taboos while reflecting on the fragile balance between duty, freedom, and authenticity.
Awarded and screened in more than 300 international film festivals, including Oscar®-qualifying events, the trilogy has gained recognition for its visual beauty, emotional depth, and fearless storytelling.
🎥 Included Films: Ni Jing: Thou Shalt Not Steal, Floating Melon, Sunken Plum
🌍 Languages: Chinese (Sichuanese dialect, with optional subtitles in English, Spanish, and French)
📽️ Format: Digital / 4K
⏱️ Total Runtime: ~60 min
🗂️ Tags: Invisible Chengdu, Chinese LGBTQ+ Cinema, Independent Films, Queer Cinema, Trans Representation, Roberto F. Canuto, Xu Xiaoxi, Poetic Realism, Chinese Art Film, Social Drama, Human Rights, Gender Identity, LGBTQ+ Visibility, Independent Filmmakers, Contemporary China
#InvisibleChengdu #ChineseCinema #LGBTQFilm #IndependentCinema #QueerStories #PoeticRealism #RobertoFCanuto #XuXiaoxi #HumanRights #IdentityAndTradition
Keywords: Chinese LGBTQ cinema, queer short films, independent film, poetic realism, censorship in China, Sichuan dialect, trans representation, identity and repression, social drama, diasporic narratives, arthouse trilogy, queer filmmaking, Almost Red Productions, Roberto F. Canuto, Xu Xiaoxi.
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Sunken Plum (2017) | Short Film
“Sunken Plum (2017)” (original title Chen Li) is a Chinese–Spanish short film by award-winning filmmakers Roberto F. Canuto and Xu Xiaoxi, known for their poetic and socially engaged cinema. The film represents the final chapter of the trilogy “Invisible Chengdu”, following “Ni Jing: Thou Shalt N...
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Floating Melon (2015) | Short Film
“Floating Melon (2015)” (“Fu Guo”) is a Chinese-Spanish short film by award-winning filmmakers Roberto F. Canuto and Xu Xiaoxi, known for their poetic and socially engaged cinema. The film represents the second chapter of the trilogy “Invisible Chengdu,” a series of stories set in Sichuan and spo...
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Ni Jing: Thou Shalt Not Steal (2013) | Short Film
“Ni Jing: Thou Shalt Not Steal” is a Chinese–Spanish short film by award-winning filmmakers Roberto F. Canuto and Xu Xiaoxi, known for their poetic and socially engaged cinema. The film marks their first project shot in China after their previous collaborations in the United States and represents...
