
Modern Masturbation Allegory
LI Xinyi • 2024
22-year-old Xinyi believed she developed a masturbation addiction, and claimed she was starting to feel some indescribable feelings. While struggling, she couldn't help but constantly fall into the cycle of indulgence and suffering. In a world where everyone is ashamed of sexual satisfaction, she embarked on a journey of collecting masturbation stories alone to find someone similar... As the collection becomes more and more abundant, Xinyi finds that masturbation has gradually become a mirror, reflecting everyone's true self.
AWARDS & FESTIVALS
2025 MINT Chinese Film Festival, United Kingdom2024 IN THE PALACE International Film Festival, Bulgaria
CAST & CREW
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

LI Xinyi
Director
Masturbation in Chinese carries the meaning of “self-comfort.” Among activities related to sex, “masturbation” is the only term that naturally creates a barrier between “self” and “others.” This is a collection of masturbation stories from five girls in their early twenties, and it serves as a modern fable reflecting the mental state of contemporary youth. At the same time, I aim to turn it into an artistic game that challenges three habits of observation: reading, watching, and listening, or a book of life—one that writes about youth, women, sex, love, and the complex relationship between the individual and the outside world.