Apple’s Chinese New Year short film explores identity and self-love

Every year, Apple celebrates Chinese New Year with a short film. This year’s film, titled Little Garlic (小蒜頭), was shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max and is a beautiful exploration of identity and self-love. To create the film, Apple collaborated with TBWA\Media Arts Lab Shanghai and American director Marc Webb, who is known for directing The Amazing Spider-Man duology and 500 Days of Summer.

The 15-minute long film follows Wei (played by Cheng Zi Xia and Liu Yi Yi), a young girl who struggles with feeling accepted, until one day she finds out she can shapeshift. She uses this power to navigate the world and seek “perfection,” but ends up losing her own identity. Her grandfather (played by Fan Wei) remains a steady rock in her life and reminds her that she is already perfect, allowing Wei to finally accept herself and find confidence. Watch Apple’s heartwarming Chinese New Year film below.

“Shot entirely on iPhone 15 Pro Max, ‘Little Garlic’ is a moving film about finding your true self. You’ll marvel at the story, the beautiful cinematography, and the endless possibilities of iPhone,” said the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook.

Apple also released a behind-the-scenes video, revealing how the crew made the Chinese New Year film happen. The video highlights the features and abilities of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, such as the stabilisation in Action Mode and its optical zoom. Moreover, it showcases just how versatile the iPhone is, which can be used to shoot in small spaces such as the inside of a wardrobe or even have it taped to a basketball for dynamic shots.

Apple’s annual Chinese New Year short film not only shares a heartwarming message, it also proves that anyone can make their own movie, even without professional equipment. The device in their hand is powerful enough to make their vision come true.

(Images: Apple)