With 30 million more men than women — a result of the one child policy in China — it should seem difficult to find an unmarried woman past the age of 20. Yet, so many women remain unmarried that the government once again tries to run a policy to offset what they consider to be a shameful situation. Labeled sheng nu (“leftover women”) by the All-China Women’s Federation, unmarried women are pushed into government-organized Valentine’s Day dating parties, and mix-and-match events in public parks. Qiu Hua Mei is a successful 34-year-old lawyer facing an uphill battle to find an educated mate from a rural background who doesn’t insist on being the dominant partner. Xu Min is a 28-year-old radio talk show host whose mother believes her daughter’s suitors are never good enough. This affecting documentary spotlights how being single past 27 shows a lack of respect for one’s parents and is a source of shame in China.

In competition for the Best Documentary Award