Afong Moy was 14 years old when she was brought to the United States in 1834 and placed on public display as “The Chinese Lady” — supposedly the first to step foot on U.S. soil.

Decade after decade, she performs as a living exhibit, showing curious white people how she eats, what she wears, and — the highlight of the event — how she walks with bound feet.

Time wears on, and eventually, the lines between her performance and her own identity become blurry.

Inspired by the true story of Afong Moy’s life, The Chinese Lady is a darkly poetic yet whimsical portrait of our collective past through the eyes of a young Chinese woman.