Ela Caruzzi, a 20-year-old Croatian film student at Beijing Film Academy, is rewriting her family's story with China – one that began four decades ago when her father first pursued cinematic ambitions in Beijing. "I must have been Chinese in my previous life," she reflects, embodying a cross-continental bond that now spans generations.
Her journey began in 2023 when the then-18-year-old honored her father's advice to "go to China to truly grow," arriving alone in Kunming. Unlike her peers drawn to Western destinations, Caruzzi immersed herself in Yunnan Province's culture, finding unexpected familiarity. "I never felt afraid – China makes you feel safe," she recalls of her initial adaptation.
This year marked a pivotal chapter as Caruzzi returned for advanced studies. A defining moment came during Spring Festival 2025, when her Chinese teacher invited her to Dali. Dancing with local families and receiving traditional red envelopes, she experienced what she describes as "becoming part of China's heartbeat."
From her father's unrealized film career in 1980s Beijing to her current screenwriting projects about cultural connections, Caruzzi's story mirrors China's evolving global ties. As she develops a documentary about second-generation cultural ambassadors, educators note her work exemplifies how personal narratives can strengthen international understanding.
