In the near future, film studios stand deserted, while space travel has become the dominant form of entertainment. Lao Cha, the caretaker of a film studio, receives a virtual reality headset in lieu of wages the studio can no longer afford to pay. He immerses himself in a virtual world – one that feels more coherent and real to him than the grey reality outside it. Together with another player he meets there, he begins planning a journey to the Moon. With its absurdist humour, this animated feature combines the aesthetics of Studio Ghibli with the social critique characteristic of Jia Zhangke’s cinema. It explores the transformation of the film industry while also hinting at the darker side of China’s modernisation.
