Panacea is a feature-length documentary directed by Kai Luo, chronicling the nomadic life of He Zhikun—a Chinese Mongolian performance artist and Taoist priest—across South China since 2022.
At 37, Zhikun lives on the fringes of Shenzhen in a makeshift home, embodying a restless modernity marked by ritual, solitude, and reinvention. Born in Inner Mongolia, his eclectic lifestyle paints a vivid portrait of a man in constant motion, resisting the psychic weight of consumerism and urban conformity.
As post-pandemic pressures mount: rising rent, emotional fatigue, and cultural disillusionment, Zhikun begins contemplating a move to the U.S., searching for a new kind of freedom. During this period, the filmmaker's presence becomes increasingly involved. What began as an observational project evolves into a shared journey: Kai and Zhikun’s bond deepens, marked by mutual reflection and emotional resonance. As Kai departs for graduate school in America, Zhikun quietly prepares to leave Shenzhen behind…
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