讲述了四位挚友在追逐梦想的过程中不得不面对现实的冲击的故事。

讲述了四位挚友在追逐梦想的过程中不得不面对现实的冲击的故事。

In this four and a half hour documentary or filmic tavelogue, Ulrike Ottinger tries to impart new ways of seeing a foreign culture. "In my previous films I have dealt with the themes of exoticism, minorities and their differing role behaviour within their own culture. Now I am interested in expanding this theme, in getting to know a 'real exoticism' in a foreign land and in a different culture. I am attempting to conduct a visual discourse with my camera about exoticism as a question of point-of-view. 　　In making the film, I was influenced by Chinese naturepainting: by the use of the scroll, which not only demands a different method of painting, but a different way of viewing - rolling out the scroll, focusing in on details, wandering to and fro, viewing piecemeal. So if I was filming a market square, for example, I'd pan very slowly and steadily across the square, rather than trying to capture the image in toto. 　　– Ulrike Ottinger

1997年，一座废弃工厂改建的重考补习班。三个角色，具体而微地描绘了中国高考制度留下的烙印：反抗性格的觉醒者，与思想开放的英语老师；多次重考的失败者，承担家庭期许的难忍重担，濒临瓦解；模范生以出乎意料的「恋爱」探索青春。三段故事，映照出那个时代青年的精神样貌与生活处境。

千一羽满心期待嫁给自己青梅竹马的刘家二少爷刘思楠，却意外错嫁给人人害怕的疯癫大少爷刘思霖。千一羽宁死不屈，以死相逼，刘思霖手抓剪刀救下自己，二人拉扯中双双撞头晕倒在房间呆了一夜。第二天千一羽逃跑中偶然救下下人郭子辛，并求他带自己逃走，逃跑中危险逐步靠近。

民国初年，大富商刘家老管家千帆的养女千一羽本来和刘家二少爷刘思楠青梅竹马，许下婚约，却在婚宴当晚被许配给了刘思楠的疯癫哥哥刘思霖。嫁给竹马哥哥的千一羽对枕边人刘思霖怀恨在心，然而她还要装作若无其事，因为她有任务在身，就是帮助刘思楠监视他的哥哥。原来大少爷失势正是二少爷从中作梗，他想独吞整个家产！没想到刘思霖面对千一羽的种种刁难和任性总是贴心包容，千一羽在监视大少爷刘思霖的过程中逐渐被他的善良打动，两人逐渐暗生情愫，但是二人的感情一直被人挑拨，甚至牵扯出了千一羽亲生父母的遇害的幕后真凶。

影片讲述患难与共的两个家庭因为一场有隐情的意外被迫疏远，他们在时代洪流下历尽伤痛与不安，人生起伏跌宕，最终选择面对真相，坦荡向前的故事。　　年轻的刘耀军和沈英明两家人本是挚友，两家儿子沈浩和刘星在郊外嬉戏中，耀军的儿子刘星意外身亡，此事彻底改变了两家人的命运。刘家夫妇远赴南方。多年后，容颜已老的他们再次相聚，隐藏的真相终将因为年轻一代人的坦荡而揭开。岁月流逝，生命滚滚向前……