Li Xinran

Loosely based on The Tale of Darkness, a traditional song of mourning, the film follows Wang Zhun, a director in search of inspiration for his new script, as he embarks on an unpredictable trek across China’s remote Shennongjia mountains in Hubei province with an urbane producer, Ding Hongmei; a young actor named Bai; and his loyal photographer, Du Chun. The journey delivers a relentless series of unexpected physical hardships and subtle emotional ebbs and flows on the protagonists.

Set in wartime Sichuan, the film follows young widow Xia Qiuyue, who receives news of her husband's death just as the Anti-Japanese War ends. As she rebuilds her life, two men enter her world: her mute brother-in-law Tusheng and A Long, a fellow soldier and her husband's close friend. Tensions rise as both men fall for her, while A Long is also loved by her sister-in-law, Xiaohua. Just as peace seems possible, war returns, and both men volunteer to fight, each willing to sacrifice himself for love and brotherhood.

It is the year of 2010, Xue Beijing, a 50-year-old director, is preparing to make a film about his youth and remarkable ages in late 60's.