Céline Roustan
When Bowen unexpectedly encounters their estranged father in the city late one night, they decide to meet and attempt to reconnect, while also trying to take care of a poisonous fish bite. With Yú Cì (Fish Bones), writer/director Kevin Xian Ming Yu pens a delicate and sensitive narrative about identity and community, employing an undeniably authentic approach to give the film a surprisingly effective poignancy and make it incredibly compelling.
“I made this film to start empathetic conversations across generations within Chinese immigrant communities about queer, trans and nonbinary identities”
“This film is inspired by the complicated ways in which my genderqueer and trans identity interacts with my Chinese immigrant family and community in Queens,” Yu confessed. Powerful slices of life are often based on a director’s own experience, and Fish Bones feels grounded, unafraid of its undramatic narrative structure. It therefore comes as no surprise when Yu shared that inspiration behind the film, adding, “when I was first exploring my gender identity, my uncle, who fishes frequently in Queens, experienced a strange poisonous fish bite that turned his hand purple”, an incident incorporated into the film in an almost metaphorical way.
Not especially dialogue-heavy, the film instead relies on what remains unspoken. The camera has a lot of empathy and tenderness for its two protagonists, subverting expectations with its compassion. It depicts, with honesty, the fraught relationship between Bowen and their dad – one that is largely rooted in misunderstandings. “I made this film to start empathetic conversations across generations within Chinese immigrant communities about queer, trans and nonbinary identities,” Yu explained. As the film progresses, we watch the pair reconnect, their reserve and shyness ultimately leading to moments of vulnerability, which in turn makes the ending all the more resounding.
“Through the filmmaking process, we grew closer and had conversations that created more understanding around my genderqueerness” – Yu discussing casting their father in the film
Yu shot Fish Bones where they grew up, drawing on locations from their own community and working with mainly natural light. This approach removes unnecessary distraction, allowing the film’s quiet yet heavy emotional arc to take center stage while maintaining a very naturalistic look. All the performances in the short are impressive, even the mother! Yu actually cast their own parents in the film, and while they are not professional actors, their performances feel nuanced and genuine. The chemistry between Jiawei Huang, who plays Bowen, and Feng Yu (their dad) is particularly affecting, carrying much of the film’s emotional complexity.
Fish Bones had its World Premiere at the 2025 edition of SXSW Film & TV and went on to be selected at multiple other festivals including the Palm Springs ShortFest, Nashville, NewFest and Provincetown – where it earned a Special Jury Mention. Their new short i saw you in the flood is already on the festival circuit, having premiered at the 2026 edition of SXSW Film & TV.