At the edge of the Yangtze River, not far from the Three Gorges Dam, young men and women take up employment on a cruise ship, where they confront rising waters and a radically changing China.
The film opens in a 19th century river town under lockdown by government troops. Word has reached the emperor that a band of rebels have hidden their families, including the leader’s son Erh Mao, in the town. Rebel supporters are spiriting the children to a boat that will take them to safety.
What's in a name? Filmmaker Yung Chang explores the meaning and origins of both of his names: the one given to him in Oshawa when he was born and the Chinese name that drew him back to his homeland.
