A dying father builds a future he won't live to see — steel mills and sacrifice.
A story about a father who discovers that he is terminally ill and does everything he can to make final preparations for his son. Fei Li lives inside a steel factory and makes a living as a street performer. He cares for his introverted son Liu Di all by himself. Since Fei Li never married, he registered his son under his cousin's name. This year, Liu Di has turned seven years old. Fei Li discovers that he is in the late stages of cancer and he decides to arrange for Liu Di to be adopted by his cousin who, despite being married for years, still has no children. They've set a date when his cousin will come to take Liu Di abroad. As their time of separation draws near, Fei Li's clock is also ticking.
Acting
Li Jiawen's restrained devastation — no Oscar clip moments, just truth.
Cinematography
Steel factory as purgatory — industrial beauty crushing human scale.
Director
Xi Zi
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The 'hukou' system shadows everything — Fei Li's inability to legally register his son reflects real systemic barriers for unmarried parents in China.
Directors Xi Zi and Ting Pan are partners in life and film; this was their thesis project that accidentally became their most personal work after becoming parents themselves.
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