On the edge of the Gobi Desert in northwest China, Lang — a man recently released from prison — returns to his desolate hometown. With the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games, the town plans to clear out stray dogs loitering in abandoned streets. Lang joins the local dog‑patrol team tasked with rounding up the strays, but during one of the operations he rescues a black dog suspected to carry rabies. Instead of handing it in, he forms an unexpectedly deep bond with the dog, and the two lonely souls embark on a quiet journey of survival and redemption together.

DETAILS
🎬 Director: Guan Hu https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28131427
🎭 Main cast: Eddie Peng (as Lang), Tong Liya
📝 Writers: Guan Hu, Ge Rui, Wu Bing
🌍 Country / Language: China / Mandarin
⏱️ Runtime: ~110 minutes
🏅 Premiere & Awards: World premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on 18 May 2024; won the Un Certain Regard prize.
🎞️ Genre / Style: Drama, neo‑western / social realism — a “China‑noir” journey blending melancholy, redemption, and a raw depiction of societal change.