Lang is fresh out of jail; Xin is a stray everyone fears. Together they prowl the Gobi in a Cannes-winning tale of grit and grace. Come for the dunes, stay for the doggo.
Film details
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Premiere: 24 April 2025 (Rotterdam)
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Director: Guan Hu
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Runtime: 111 min
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Where to watch: LantarenVenster • KINO
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Cast: Eddie Peng, Tong Liya, Jia Zhang-ke
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Awards: Un Certain Regard Best Film & Palm Dog Grand Jury Prize, Cannes 2024
What’s the vibe?
A neo-Western wrapped in a slow-burn buddy film: broad desert vistas, junk-yard motorcycles and the odd bark echoing off weather-beaten corrugated iron. It’s dusty, dangerous and strangely tender.
Trailer
Why you might like it
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Eyes: sweeping Gobi landscapes captured in golden-hour long shots.
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Heart: a silent man–dog friendship that hits harder than most rom-com finales.
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Mind: sly digs at pre-Olympic boomtown bravado and the souls left behind.
Scene to watch for
A midnight motorbike sprint: Lang throttles through a sandstorm while Xin keeps pace, lit only by the head-lamp beam — pure cinematic adrenaline.
Recommended pairing
Crack open salty sunflower seeds and sip hot jasmine tea; the crunch and warmth match the film’s mix of harshness and hope.
Need-to-knows
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Spoken Mandarin; English & Dutch subtitles
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Age rating: 12 (brief violence and strong language)
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