As the first film of its kind, The Sky is the Limit — an upcoming release about the dedication of Gansu residents to environmental protection — is scheduled for a nationwide release this summer, as a tribute to the 70th anniversary of the creation of the Sunan Yugur autonomous county in Gansu province.
Directed by Li Tao, it features a cast of young talents and veterans, such as Xia Wang and Shen Shiyu, as well as Tibetan actors Wangdron Tso and Lopsang Choephel.
The film follows the journey of An Duola, a fresh college graduate who abandons the comfort of urban life to return to her hometown nestled at the foot of the Qilian Mountains, which straddle the border between Qinghai and Gansu provinces. Working as a local official, she helps villagers and herdsmen discover effective methods to enhance agriculture and tourism, while also focusing on environmental preservation.
The movie's premiere at the China Film Archive on July 18 was attended by Li Tao, scriptwriter Wang Shouhua, as well as cast members Liu Chang, Li Haoze and Zhao Zimo.
Liu Qinglu, the film's producer and native of Zhangye in Gansu province, revealed his deep admiration for the farmers and herdsmen who sacrificed their personal interests to relocate for the protection of the Qilian Mountains grasslands. He felt that it was his duty to produce a film that captured and reflected their spirit of self-sacrifice for the greater good.
Following years of intensive research and interviews, the film was shot entirely in the Sunan Yugur autonomous county, according to Li.