Laura is a 32 girl ex-model from Turin. In the past,
she has always conflicted with her body. Laura was
constantly on a diet, and she used to make frequent
comparisons with the figure of her mother, who died
in an accident. She was forced to change her life
completely -in love and work- after having found
disease and enduring mastectomy. She now owns a
small bookshop, feeling protected by her favourite
novels. She is insecure, with no points of reference,
scared to love again and to love herself. Ah-lai is a
90-year-old Chinese woman, born in a low-income
family. Because her distinguish beauty, Ah-lai’s
mother wanted her to practice the Foot binding to
guarantee her a good marriage and prosperous future.
She got married to an older man, but she still lives on
the memory of a single kiss with a young stranger.
After the death of her husband, she followed her
daughter in Italy, where she currently lives, alone.
She is fond of her granddaughter Giuliana, a tattoo
maker. Laura and Ah-lai meet and start seeing each
other. Thanks to those meetings, Laura begins her
path to personal growth and self-awareness. “Lotus
Flowers” title is taken from the novel’s opening lines:
the blooming of the flower from the mud. Each of the
two protagonists is watching the scene at home from
a documentary. The lotus is a symbol of pureness and
beauty. It can blossom in extreme conditions and
even after years of calm. Therefore, it is a metaphor
for resilience, brilliance beyond the mud of pain and
difficulties, which threatens to tarnish and bury
aspirations and dreams. The author is thriving, and
her books have been published in Italy by famous
publishing houses.