Han Jiangyu (Lee Kang-sheng) returns to his hometown on Hainan Island after ten years in prison, and tries to rekindle his relationship with former lover, Su Hong. Hong's plan to buy an apartment forces them to face predicaments in sight while tenacious perseverance empowers them to carry on with their lives and make up for each other's absence. (Source: Berlinale 2023)
In 2021, director Wu Lang's short film Absence was nominated for Best Short Film at the 74th Cannes Film Festival and the 33rd Palm Springs International Film Festival, and won Best Short Film at the 22nd Milan International Film Festival. This 2023 feature debut (also known as The Soul of Goldfish or Xue Yun) is based on his short. It will receive its World Premiere at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival in the Encounters section. Taiwanese actor-director Lee Kang-sheng is a regular cast member for all Tsai Ming-liang films.
