Praying Mantis is an 18-minute hand-drawn animation short film co-directed by Hong Kong director Yonfan and Taiwanese filmmaker Joe Hsieh, breaking his six-year silence. The film merges Yonfan’s expertise in portraying complex female characters with Hsieh’s recurring motifs of lust and death, telling the story of a mother who sacrifices herself entirely for her child – even transforming into a mutant that hunts fresh flesh through seduction, ultimately offering herself to be devoured. It premiered in the Orizzonti Short Films Competition at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, showcasing the directors’ signature storytelling and visual style.

The film builds on his established visual language, staying true to the traits of their touch on texture and portraits of characters. Aligning Joe Hsieh’s horror-noir with Yonfan’s elegant, Jazz-tinged reminiscence. The result is a short that balances carnal menace with curated romanticism, centered by the duo’s shared credit at this year’s Biennale.

Hsieh has a remarkable talent for weaving elements rich in oriental aesthetics into his pictures. In Praying Mantis, there is a striking sense of Taiwanese local identity, from the neon billboards on the streets and old-school ballroom interiors to the Taiwanese Hokkien dialogue between characters. These elements vividly transport audiences into the narrow alleyways of Taiwan, immersing them in the vibrant, chaotic allure of nightlife districts.

His upbringing in Taiwan inspired him to create this story of a mother, as mothers are usually the supporting force in the family who are tough and devoted, and his mother had a great impact on his motivation to start this work. He lived in the countryside while growing up, and he always found mantises beautiful among all the insects. In addition, the mantis has a habit in which the female often eats the male after mating. This dazzling yet cruel feature intersects with his core concept of creation, where beauty and violence are intertwined. Therefore, he wrote this story, where he could extend the fullest potential of these two components into one single gory and horrific film.

Hsieh has a remarkable gift for capturing the most essential and primal aspects of his culture. This makes his films truly irreplaceable in style and in substance. It is also worth noting that Praying Mantis is distributed by MIYU Distribution, a highly respected name in animation known for representing some of the world’s most exceptional short films – from award-winning festival favourites to groundbreaking works by emerging talents. Every film handled by MIYU reflects the company’s consistently high standards.

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Written by Jane Wei

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