THE PALE OCEAN 魚肚白的海洋
Dir. Roku Long, Prod. Liu Yang, China, 2018, 16MIN
In a small ornamental fish shop, a teenage boy secretly collects black goldfish, replacing each one when it dies. When his father discovers his hidden obsession, it sparks a confrontation, only for them to realize the goldfish symbolize cherished memories from before their family fell apart.
Clip from The Pale Ocean
Starring Ren Zi Hao
Director of Photography, Liu Ze Rui
Beijing, China, 2018
“The Pale Ocean tells the story of a father and son running a small aquarium shop on the verge of closing down. Among the colorful fish swimming behind the glass, only a small black fish in the boy’s tank captures his quiet attachment. Each time it dies, he secretly replaces it with another one — until his father discovers the truth.
Set in a fading corner of a small town, the film reflects on tenderness, loss, and the fragile ways people try to preserve what they love. Through water, reflection, and silence, The Pale Ocean explores how ordinary life carries its own poetry — and how love often hides beneath the surface, quietly struggling to breathe.”
