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

• Premiere: 24 April 2025 (Rotterdam)

• Director: Guan Hu

• Runtime: 111 min

• Where to watch: LantarenVenster • KINO

• Cast: Eddie Peng, Tong Liya, Jia Zhang-ke

• 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

• Eyes: sweeping Gobi landscapes captured in golden-hour long shots.

• Heart: a silent man–dog friendship that hits harder than most rom-com finales.

• 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

• Spoken Mandarin; English & Dutch subtitles

• Age rating: 12 (brief violence and strong language)