Four Tibetan youths from a school for the blind hear of an opportunity to perform in a “China’s Got Talent” reality TV competition. Running off with their instruments and a sack of pears, the young blind musicians flee their small village on the Tibetan plateau, knowing it’s their only chance to pursue their dreams.
On a journey through snow-capped mountains and rolling countryside, the kids must get to Lhasa to catch a flight to the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. Guided by 10-year-old classmate Thupten, who still has sight in one eye (although increasingly impaired by cataracts), the traveling band encounters nomads, a biker gang, and a TV producer who all play roles in the youths’ odyssey. When the kids face the high stakes of performing before the world, they find their struggle to prove themselves has only just begun. Based on true events.
Recommended for ages 9+
Zhang Wei studied directing at the Beijing Film Academy as well as cinema studies at the Chinese National Academy of Arts. He has directed five features, including Beijing Dream (‘10) and Shadow (‘11), both of which received acclaim from critics. His third feature Factory Boss (‘14) won the Fajr Award for Best Original Screenplay at the Fajr International Film Festival.
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