Du Xian

In an arctic village in the north of China, an elderly woman awaits the return of her deceased father – the rhythmic tapping of her fingers echoes the hooves of his horse when he rode off to war. Inspired by Buddhist philosophy, Wang Hanxuan's directorial debut finds unshakable confidence in the loving bond between father and daughter.

Jin, a widowed mother living alone in a village, is diagnosed with a brain tumor. Her daughter fights tooth and nail to get her the best treatment while her son encourages the family to embrace the reality of death. Circumstances send the three characters on an existential journey on the rivers of the past. Chen's sensitive debut feature is a film about homecoming and farewells, and was awarded Best Screenplay at the Shanghai International Film Festival.