Palimpsest: The Story of a Name

Filmmaker Mary Stephen comes from a typical Chinese family, yet her uncommon surname often confuses people who have not met her before. In this intimate film, she explores the origins of her English name. Why did Mary’s parents choose it, and how has it shaped their—and her—fate, social status and identity?

The Stephens led a fascinating life, navigating a turbulent period in the history of China and their hometown of Hong Kong—with its strong British influence—before eventually relocating to Canada. Mary Stephen worked for many years as an editor with French nouvelle vague director Éric Rohmer. The film reflects this experience, particularly in the existential themes she explores, her blending of reality and subjectivity, and the many unexpected twists and turns.

Stephen effortlessly weaves well-documented personal and collective histories into a rich essay on a wide range of topics. Beyond her profound love of cinema, she reflects on colonialism, migration and the human need to reinvent oneself and rewrite one’s own story.