Films centered on the connection between people and their animal companions are common, and they generally succeed in appealing to audiences. The newest film from writer-director Guan Hu follows this pattern. It tells the story of a man named Lang Yonghui (played by Eddie Peng), who has recently been released from prison after serving ten years for manslaughter. He returns to his hometown near the Gobi Desert in nort…

After serving time in prison, Lang (Eddie Peng) returns to his hometown. As the story unfolds, we get some insight into what led to his incarceration, as well as exploring his strained relationship with his father, who works at a zoo, and learning that he once held a prominent position within the community as part of a popular local band. With the Beijing Olympics (2008) approaching, there's considerable pressure fro…