Debris

In the remote coastal settlement of Island Splendor, a shipwrecked father and his young daughter Tang build a fragile life among the driftwood and sand. After his wife’s death, Ge struggles with prejudice and alcohol, while Tang finds joy in the wild creatures around her.

The arrival of mysterious confections sparks Ge’s obsession to recreate them. His experiments take a dark turn when he accidentally consumes his daughter’s pet toad’s venom, transforming him into a demon. Believing he’s found success, he abandons Tang to pursue his ambitions.

Left alone, Tang befriends an injured bird she names Dodo. Though initially seeking recognition as a performer, she discovers her true calling in cultivation, learning to coax life from the harsh island soil despite countless setbacks.

As Tang grows into a compassionate young woman tending to her flourishing garden, Ge’s sweet empire rises and falls with the changing times. When modern gadgets replace his creations, his demonic form begins to crumble. During Tang’s search for her father, a powerful sandstorm strips away his cursed form. Father and daughter, lost in the wilderness, choose to leave their past behind, walking together toward an uncertain horizon.

Directed by Xifeng (China)