Kaili Blues

The story unfolds in a contemporary setting, with a non-linear sequence that drifts into past memories. Chen's life interweaves his time as a convict, his family history, and present-day responsibilities as a rural doctor. A dream-episode through Dangmai blurs timelines, highlighting how memory shapes action.

Kaili is a quiet rural community where Chen works as a doctor. The journey to Zhenyuan unfolds by train, exposing distances between people and places. Dangmai appears as a dreamlike village where past, present, and future mingle, guiding Chen on his search.

👨‍👦 Family

The narrative centers on Chen's duties to his family—son Weiwei and the strained relationship with Crazy Face. Rivalries and neglect threaten Weiwei's safety, forcing Chen to confront guilt and responsibility. The film tracks how love, loyalty, and anger collide on the road to reunion.

🌀 Memory and Dream

A dream-filled journey through Dangmai merges past, present, and future, acting as a compass and a trap for Chen. Memories of his wife, his mother, and his prison years drive present choices, sometimes guiding him, sometimes deceiving him. The dream sequences reveal how unspoken histories influence what he does next.

🕊️ Redemption

Chen's drive to protect Weiwei becomes a path toward atonement for past violence and losses. The narrative suggests redemption is possible only through actions, not apologies alone. Monk and Weiwei's safety function as catalysts for a moral reckoning, even if the future remains uncertain.

🚜 Rural-Urban Divide

The journey highlights the tension between rural life in Kaili and the wider world represented by Zhenyuan. The train ride and Dangmai's liminal space expose social and familial pressures shaped by place and mobility. Culture and memory of regional communities emerge through the musician, the doctor, and the hairdresser.