Across the Plateau

This is the extraordinary story of seven retired Chinese men and women who embark on a 3,100 kilometer cycling journey from Lanzhou, a smoggy industrial city in northwest China, across the Tibetan plateau to Everest Base Camp. Among the cyclists are a veteran explorer and stroke survivor, a soldier-turned-musician, an inventor with a car parking system patent under his belt and a first-generation rubber factory worker who has just recovered from a year-long poison-induced paralysis. The seven cyclists all survived traumatic experiences during the Cultural Revolution, and their life experiences contribute to their determination and stamina in tackling adventures late in life. From their stories, we witness how they find fulfillment by undertaking a grueling personal challenge. (Ronin Films)