Portugal / France / Belgium
88
68th edition. October 21-28, 2023
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Humble, unassuming Ma and timid Cao have been cast off by their families and forced into an arranged marriage. They have to combine their strength and build a home to survive. In the face of much adversity, an unexpected bond begins to blossom, as both Ma and Cao, uniting with Earth’s cycles, create a haven for themselves in which they can thrive. A story about eternal love, against the odds.
Born in Gansu Province, China in 1983, he began studying painting and music at the age of 14. In 2003, he graduated from the Management Institute of the China National Ministry of Radio, Film and Television. He has directed six feature films, all of which tend to focus on the relationship between human beings and the land, as well as the rural attitude towards family, life, and death in a rapidly changing China. His films are predominantly set in his hometown of Gaotai with his close friends and relatives acting in them. His films, ‘Summer Solstice’ (2007), ‘The Old Donkey’ (2010), ‘Fly with the Crane’ (2012), ‘River Road’ (2014), ‘Walking Past the Future’ (2017) and ‘Return to Dust’ (2022), have been selected for festivals including Venice, Cannes, Berlin and Tokyo.
