In 1980s China, Wu is an aspiring poet who also works at a coal mine in northern China, while his doting wife Hui lovingly supports him at every turn. Their chance at success finally comes when Wu's poem is published in a magazine and earns praise from a renowned poet. However, malaise and distrust between the two in the ensuing years send both their marriage and their social status plummet towards unimaginable depths.—Hong Kong Asian Film Festival