Chûgoku no chôjin

In this quirky and offbeat film, director Takashi Miike leads a mismatched trio on a wild adventure through rural China, courtesy of a salary man (Masahiro Motoki) who's been sent to investigate a potential jade mine. Joined by a violent yet sentimental yakuza (Renji Ishibashi) who's looking to repay his debt in precious stones, the group stumbles upon a mystical school for "bird people" where students can supposedly fly using artificial wings. Along the way, they encounter colorful characters, stunning Chinese landscapes, and themes of ecology, technology, and tradition that will keep you guessing until the very end.