Inspired by an old Chinese saying—“Even if I can accompany you for one thousand miles, finally we must bid farewell”—writer-director Zhao Ye films the parting of two friends working on the last Chinese steam engine trains, in the Jalainur coal mine in remote Inner Mongolia. Old Zhu, a train conductor, has decided to retire a few weeks early, to be with his daughter, who lives miles away. His young apprentice and close friend, Li Zhizhong, boards the train to be with him until the last minute. Zhao directs his non-professional actors documentary-style, capturing intimate details in rapturous visuals that express emotions more powerfully than words.
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