Water of Life and Death

The first lunar month, the start of a new year.

On the frozen lake surface of Qinghai Lake, Zhou, the Buddhist Practitioner and his friends are delivering supplies to the temple built on the isolated island at the lake centre. At their own peril, they venture on the melting glaciers resulted from global warming. Sadly, humans aren’t the only victims; the wildlife around Qinghai Lake suffers the same fate. Urban development and the opening up of the tourism industry have destroyed the greenery and wetlands surrounding the lake. They pose a threat to the life of the wildlife, whose regular sanctuary has suddenly become their last resting place.

In face of such a predicament, some choose to devote their whole life to safeguard this piece of precious land.

Nomad Jian Mu-cuo sold his herb of sheep in exchange for the fund for his camera and the opportunity to document the wildlife. He called up the villagers to pick up litter. His mission was to monitor the well-being of the wildlife surrounding the lake. His dedication to environmental conservation was never undeterred by the rain or storm. All these were simply for the humble wish of enabling his son to witness the same piece of prairie when he grew up.

Like him, Jian Mu-cuo’s ancestors survived on the flora and fauna on the prairie. He understood people like him bear the responsibility to protect their homeland eternally. For this very reason, he didn’t hesitate the slightest to keep the orphan Przewalski's gazelle he came across. In fact, he looked after the creature like his own son. Yet, could Jian Mu-cuo indeed save the life of these ‘sons’ in Mother Nature to alter the future of his own son?