Born in China, Zee seeks a gender-affirming life in the American Midwest

A refreshingly honest and original ‘American Dream’ story, Here, Hopefully (2023) follows Zee, a nonbinary immigrant from rural China who has recently graduated from a nursing school in the US Midwest. In an intimate portrait, the Chinese director Hao Zhou captures Zee as they study for a licencing exam that will be crucial if they’re to live the gender-affirming life that they seek, far from China’s strict gender norms. Although, as eventually becomes clear, even a high score won’t guarantee them a work visa.

Through observational filmmaking and candid interviews, the film documents Zee as they deal with the loneliness of living far from home and try, against type, to have a bit of fun outside of the grind. Understated cinematography and a fast-paced editing style evoke the anxieties and isolation of Zee’s life, forming a nuanced and sympathetic character study that touches on broader themes of global immigration, gender and mental health. The film is a part of the PBS short film series centred on ‘filmmakers of color from the American Midwest and on narratives that illuminate the living histories, cultures, and future visions of the region’.