Back to the North

Xiao Ai, a factory worker in Southern China and the only child in her family, suffers from a fatal disease. Sensing that she will soon pass away, which would leave her parents to fend for themselves, and despite the government enforcing a one child policy, Xiao Ai insists her parents have another child; even though her parents are Chinese Communist Party members and would face party dismissal as punishment. Xiao Ai’s family moves all the way from the South to the North of China, settling in Mohe County, Heilongjiang Province, where Xiao Ai was born. Xiao Ai later finds out that due to the unique situation of her family, her parents` application for permission to have a second baby has been handed to the supreme council for final approval. The movie ends with Xiao Ai hopeful that her parents will bear another child, but also tormented by the doubt that she will not live to see that day.