Touching tale is a real eye-opener

"One of the children I met once had tried to run away to the city in search of his father. He wished that he could sit on his father's shoulders and watch fireworks together. This story inspired me to make a film that brings attention to the plight of China's 'left-behind children'," Bai says.

For this film, Bai thought his usual documentary approach would be unsuitable for this subject, as he was concerned that the authentic footage might cause harm to the children.

After five years of filmmaking, Bai's first narrative film, Like Father and Son, hosted its premiere in Beijing on Feb 4 and is due to hit cinemas nationwide on Feb 25.

Set in northern Shaanxi in the 2000s, the film tells the story of truck driver Gou Ren and a "left-behind" child Mao Dou, whose lives cross paths when Gou Ren passes through Mao Dou's village and Mao Dou sneaks aboard his truck, hoping to hitch a ride to find his father.

After a sequence of unintended occurrences, the two set out on a journey to locate Mao Dou's father, searching numerous construction sites as Gou Ren gradually takes on the role of a father figure.

With its comedic yet heartwarming storyline, the film aims to draw attention to the plight faced by migrant workers and the children they leave behind in rural areas.

"The film's absolute authenticity is one of its strongest appeals," Bai says. To bring a sense of realism to the production, he chose to match a cast of novice actors with the characters.