A new film focuses on a real-life historical event about how Inner Mongolian herdsmen adopted 3,000 orphans from areas in China hit by natural disasters in the 1960s.

Yu Dong, producer of the film and chairman of Bona Film Group, said at Saturday's premiere in Beijing that "In Search of Lost Time" narrates a rare historical event, and what it aims to convey is the selfless love among those ethnic people who have helped and watched over each other. "I believe that such a film, full of love, will bring warmth and touching emotions and resonate with audiences across the country," Yu said.

The film will hit Chinese theaters on Sept. 9, the eve of China's Mid-Autumn Day, which is traditionally a time for family reunions. Directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Derek Yee, the film stars Chen Baoguo, Ma Su, and many ethnic Mongolian Chinese actors, such as Ayanga. It made its special debut as the opening film at the 12th Beijing International Film Festival and has received rave reviews ever since.

According to director Yee, he spent a significant amount of time combing through and studying historical documents and videos in preparation for the film and found it particularly hard to make. "Every child adopted in Inner Mongolia has their own stories, and we have 3,000 stories to tell. By interviewing orphans and herdsmen, we extracted the essence of their experiences as well as their touching memories to create this film," Yee said, adding that if young people have an interest in this story after seeing the film, they should seek out more information themselves to understand more about this particular history.

The film tells a touching story of junior orphans adopted by nomadic families during natural disasters that triggered famine 60 years ago. Food shortages in the late 1950s left large numbers of orphans in south China facing severe malnutrition. At that crucial moment, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region devised a program for local families to adopt the children. The program helped an estimated 3,000 orphans between 1960 and 1963. The film chronicles how the children, far from their hometowns, adapted to their new lives on the Inner Mongolian steppe.

Actor Chen Baoguo described how his character in the film is determined to find his lost sister in Inner Mongolia, which he described as a journey of self-redemption. "There are many emotional moments in the movie, which you have to experience in the cinema for the full effect," Chen said.

"In Search of Lost Time" showcases Inner Mongolia's beautiful scenery, culture, and its people. It was filmed in Ulagai Prairie, Inner Mongolia, which locals call "the grassland on the edge of sky." The local government gave the film its full support, including providing many traditional Mongolian costumes. Inner Mongolian musical artist Ayanga said, "Sixty years ago, the people of the grasslands accepted the children from afar. This fate also united people from the distant seaside and the people from the grasslands of Inner Mongolia. It was love that gave us this fate and will surely pass on the legacy."

The cast and crew, which include many local ethnic actors, demonstrated how people could come together like a family and represent the unity of different peoples. Yee said he has many fond memories from filming, and he also learned some Mongolian language, such as "I can't drink anymore" and "I'm getting drunk," referring to Inner Mongolians' hospitality, which prompted laughter from the audience at the premiere. Later at the event, the cast and crew danced an Inner Mongolian dance routine inside the cinema to celebrate the film.

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