NETPAC Award Winners, 2025. The Botanist

Synopsis

In a remote village in Xinjiang, a young Kazakh boy named Arsin, who finds solace in the company of plants. He soon meet Meiyu, a spirited Han girl. As their friendship blossoms, it deepens into a delicate, dreamlike allegory that blurs the lines between reality and the enchanting world of botany. The film explores themes of nature, isolation, coming-of-age, and the quiet shifts in a fragile, pre-modern world. The film is described as a '"dreamlike and meditative" eco-fable with a strong focus on natural imagery. The film is noted for its authentic depiction of regional life and its poetic, visual storytelling.