Guardiana

Chieh witnesses her sister-in-law, obsessed with bearing a son, succumbing to superstition and the social pressure to provide the family with an heir. She, too, feels the pressure to marry. Will the day ever come when they can break free? One day, while walking along the river, she discovers a woman's body. The authorities summon a priestess to ensure her spirit rests in peace and doesn't haunt the village. The woman, with her mysterious gifts, seems truly capable of communicating with the spirit world, and Chieh, seeing a glimmer of hope, decides to become her apprentice. But soon after, tiny handprints begin appearing on her legs as she sleeps, and more women disappear or are found dead. What will Chieh do? Will she ever find the life she longs for? In early 20th-century Taiwan, a married woman's happiness depended on bearing a son. Achieving this became an obsession involving various rituals. Nownow combines folklore and history to recreate the daily lives of women during the Qing dynasty, beautifully portraying both the beauty and tragedy of their lives.