Zoom In, Zoom Out: Unpacking Absence in Digital Age

Dong Jie's debut feature, "Zoom In, Zoom Out," uses a character's disappearance to explore themes of connection and self-reflection. The film follows a game designer searching for his missing roommate, a quest that draws him closer to the roommate's girlfriend.

Together, they attempt to understand the missing person through digital remnants like chat logs and game avatars. Director Dong Jie notes that these fragments offer an incomplete picture, and the process of assembling them reveals more about the searchers' own desires and interpretations.

Rather than focusing on the mystery's resolution, the film examines the emotional fallout of absence, including jealousy and vulnerability. Dong aims to capture a universal yet often unspoken emotion, portraying the absent character as a persistent, ghostly presence.

The production team created an in-house game for the film, intentionally giving it a rough aesthetic. This visual choice surprisingly enhanced the sense of the person behind the controls, blending reality, memory, and the virtual world.

"Zoom In, Zoom Out" reflects on the "spiritual outlook" of young people in China, highlighting a preoccupation with the self amidst a need for morality and meaning. Dong seeks to reclaim a belief in creating meaning through human connection.

The director consciously treats the digital world as integral to everyday life, opting for an optimistic view of technology's impact. He believes in the reality of our feelings and relationships, even as technology reshapes our lives.

Premiering at the Venice Critics' Week, the film marks Dong Jie's international debut. He hopes a story rooted in his cultural context will resonate with diverse audiences. Dong's future projects aim for a genre-driven approach while retaining a strong authorial voice.