A cinematic fever dream between desire and identity
A mysterious serpent woman, a biker caught between dream and reality, and an exploration of cultural identity: In Winnie Cheung’s short film Last Call, eroticism, horror and folklore merge into a hypnotic piece of art.
In Last Call, part of the NOWNESS Shorts,series, Hong Kong-born, New York-based filmmaker Winnie Cheung dives deep into the psyche of a young woman torn between fantasy and truth. Motorcycle racer Claudia is haunted by sensual visions of a serpent woman – a mythical being that embodies both danger and liberation.
Blending camp horror with romantic surrealism, Cheung uses the language of film to explore migration, cultural heritage, and female empowerment. Drawing on Chinese folklore, she reimagines the female body beyond the Western gaze – playful, powerful, and shape-shifting.
“Last Call became a vessel and practice towards feeling seen by myself. Drawing from Chinese folklore, I explored feminine bodies untouched by the Western gaze – playful, sexy and powerful in their ability to shapeshift between different worlds.”
– Winnie Cheung
Through theatrical lighting and saturated colors, Cheung amplifies the dreamlike state that traps her protagonist, reflecting the tension between belonging and otherness. Last Call becomes a cinematic meditation on transformation – and on the strength that comes from inhabiting multiple worlds.
About NOWNESS
NOWNESS is a curated video platform dedicated to art, culture and contemporary storytelling. Founded in 2010, it has become one of the most influential destinations for audiovisual culture — a space where filmmakers, artists and visionaries share their perspectives on beauty, identity and emotion. Last Call is part of NOWNESS Shorts, a series celebrating exceptional short films and emerging voices from around the globe.
