Among the many reviews, one, in particular, touched Wu the most. She recalled that someone from the audience who was born and raised in Gansu came up to her after a screening. He left Gansu after going to university and was so thrilled to see his hometown on the big screen.

"He told me that he and his peers faced similar struggles with some of the young characters in the film, which I think is the biggest compliment to my work."

Wu hopes that the film could give the audience a medium to consider people's relationships with their hometowns, because, like many young people on and off the screen, Wu is also dogged by the dilemma of whether to return to her hometown or settle down in a big city. But she has the ability to draw inspiration from her confusion and craft it into films. "As for Summer Diary, I think no matter where people choose to stay, every choice should be respected," she said.

For Wu, what seems certain is her career in directing. As a real film buff, Wu has aspired to be a director from a young age. "Since young people are fearless, I simply went for it when I had the idea," she said.

Driven by her passion for film, Wu went to the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing for a bachelor's degree and then the London Film School, UK, to study an MA in Film-making. She took part in several film projects, including The Composer, the first joint China-Kazakhstan film production. Her academic and working experiences at home and abroad have not only taught Wu how to make films, but also deepened her understanding of telling Chinese stories in a better way.

"For many Western audiences, their first impression of Chinese cinema is kung fu movies, with limited knowledge of other genres," said Wu, who believes that more outstanding domestic films should go global.

As Wu sees it, directing is a challenging career with countless opportunities. During filming, she has encountered many difficulties. "But I have never wavered in my determination to make films and have got so much out of it as a reward," she said.

Contact the writer at [email protected]