Humble, unassuming Ma and timid Cao have been cast off by their families and forced into an arranged marriage. They have to combine their strength and build a home to survive. In the face of much adversity, an unexpected bond begins to blossom, as both Ma and Cao, uniting with Earth’s cycles, create a haven for themselves in which they can thrive. A story about eternal love, against the odds.

Why We Love It: ‘This tender drama follows the life of a couple who struck me as the least likely characters to have a film focused on them. It’s a quiet film detailing a simple but meaningful life lived together, with a powerful cumulative impact, and – be warned – a heartbreaking conclusion. This is the kind of beautifully-made un-Hollywood film that allows us to intimately observe lives completely unlike our own, with compassion and authenticity.’

Paul Gallagher, GFT Programme Manager