Description:

“Priceless” is a short animated documentary that brings to life a childhood memory from 1970s Northeast China, a time when fresh vegetables were scarce and daily life was shaped by resourcefulness and resilience. The story follows a young boy’s early morning trip to the local market, where he’s met with a chaotic crowd, fierce competition, and the overwhelming pressure of navigating adulthood’s challenges at a young age.

Told through the voice of the boy, now grown, the film captures the tension and humour of that morning, revealing how scarcity can bring out both the best and worst in people. But beyond the struggle, the story also uncovers moments of kindness, solidarity, and quiet strength. These experiences, though rooted in hardship, become formative lessons in resilience, family, and the value of appreciating the journey over the destination.

Created in response to a brief that asked students to uncover surprising, untold stories, this project uses animation to explore memory, emotion, and cultural identity. The visual style is warm and expressive, blending nostalgic textures with dynamic compositions to reflect both the chaos of the market and the introspective tone of the narration. Animation allows the story to move fluidly between realism and metaphor, capturing not just what happened, but how it felt.

“Priceless” is more than a personal anecdote; it’s a reflection on how small moments can shape who we become. It invites viewers to consider their own family histories and the quiet wisdom passed down through generations. By documenting a story that might otherwise have gone untold, the film contributes to a broader cultural archive and highlights the power of storytelling to connect us across time, place, and experience.