Take Off

At the end of the 20th century, an ordinary worker named Li Mingqi takes up his father's unfinished dream: to fly. His experiment leaves his brother-in-law disabled. With China's reform and opening up, Li and his wife open a dance hall in an abandoned factory museum, using a hot-air balloon to attract foreigners. Yet life on the ground seems unable to contain a soul with wounded wings. Desperately trying to save his gravely ill nephew, he straps on the flying machine he invented and takes to the sky once more…'I have always loved telling stories through comedy and humor. The film carries the simplicity and vitality of everyday life, drawing its narrative from authentic testimonies gathered across different eras. Even if some of these periods may feel distant, I believe audiences will find a connection, discovering the extraordinary journeys and the indomitable spirit of the workers of Northeast China.' Peng Fei