Light Pillar

In the not-too-distant future, janitor Zha tends the grounds of a bankrupt film studio, accompanied only by a cat who used to act in the studio’s movies. Unable to pay Zha’s salary, the studio’s owner offers him a virtual reality headset as partial compensation. Zha is soon drawn into a fantasy world, where he embarks on a romantic journey with a beautiful female player who promises him a ticket to the moon if he can get her the money for it. Set against the backdrop of a fading film industry, acclaimed animator Xu Zao makes a formally daring debut with LIGHT PILLAR, weaving hand-drawn animation and live action into a poignant meditation on one man's search for belonging.