Zenas Cao

SISTERS is inspired by a common yet seldomly discussed practice in China of sending children away after a divorce to make it easier for the parents to remarry. The film follows EMMY who, as a child, was sent to live with her Aunt in America after her parents’ separation so they could start new lives without the burden of a child. Thirty years later, Emmy’s Aunt dies of cancer. Grieving and alone, Emmy—now an adult—must return to China to deliver her Aunt’s ashes to the Father who once gave her up, and who now has a new wife and daughter. This is where Emmy’s story begins: at the intersection of loss, identity, and the family she never truly knew.

This story is inspired by the many women I’ve known who were cast aside, handed off, or quietly overlooked—whether because of divorce or a parent’s preference for a son. It’s a painful reality, one so deeply woven into parts of Asian culture that it often goes unspoken, even by those living it. I wrote this film to give voice to that quiet pain and to honor those who carry the weight of abandonment in silence.

Along the way, I came to realize that those of us who stand outside certain cultural norms can sometimes see what those within them cannot. And for those of us caught between cultures, that perspective becomes a powerful opportunity—to build bridges rooted in empathy, resilience, and understanding.

At its heart, this film is a reflection of our increasingly interconnected world. Like Emmy—whose life is deeply rooted in both China and America—many families today are shaped by bonds that span cultures, borders, and oceans. And often, it’s those caught between two worlds who are best equipped to connect them. Just as a decision made in one country can deeply affect lives in another, a single individual can spark understanding across cultural divides. As an Asian American filmmaker, my hope is to deepen that awareness—and to remind us that through empathy and human connection, we have the power to create a more compassionate and unified world.

So please reach out to learn how you can help bring this project to life by emailing us at sistersfeaturefilm@gmail.com. All donations are tax-deductible. You can also read our pitch deck for a deeper look at the story, vision, and the team behind the film.

Thank you so much for your support and for believing in this project — we can’t wait to share it with you on the big screen soon!