Tan Pin Pin employs a strictly external perspective for this portrait of her hometown, the tropical economic powerhorse of Singapore, interviewing political exiles in London, Thailand and Malaysia, who are to this day unable to return home.

In the latter part of the last century, Lu Xiaolu has just graduated from technical school and is currently working in a chemical factory. He hasn't a clue about what he will do in the future or how he should lead his life. Lu Xiaolu lacks skills. Moreover, he loves to play games, fight amongst his colleagues and is often found redoing poorly executed tasks. However, Lu Xiaolu is captivated by a beautiful young girl named Bai Lan, who he pursues and eventually falls in love with. Bai Lan in the end applies for graduate school and abruptly leaves for Shanghai...