Synopsis
The Invisible Shore reflects the life and death journey of Guo Chuan, the first man in China who made the solo circumnavigation around the world, Recalled by his wife, with great introspection, detailed life trace and immense passion, the film reveals the struggle of a man torn between family obligation and self-accomplishment. The film starts from the sweeping voyage of Guo Chuan on his solo, non-stop circumnavigation in 2012. It was 130 days on a 40-feet boat in the 21,000 miles seaway, and he made it. When everyone thought that he should settle down to enjoy the glory and spend time with his newborn baby, the 48 year-old father was planning for another voyage. Oct 25, 2016, on his solo journey across the Pacific, Guo Chuan lost trace 800 knots to the south of Hawaii and has not been found since.
Zhao Qi
A Sundance and Emmy awards winning documentary filmmaker in Beijing. His feature works include "Last Train Home" (Producer, the Best Documentary Feature at 2009 IDFA, 2011 Emmy Awards,), "China Heavy Weight" (Producer, 2012 Golden Horse Award), "Fallen
City" (Director&Producer, 2013 Sundance nomination) and "The Chinese Mayor" (Producer, 2015 Sundance Special Jury Prize).
Director's statement
It has been years I am following Guo Chuan time by time. I have seen him being a forceful warrior, a fidgeting father, a loving hubby, a shining idol, and a lonely drifter. What echoes to me are how many masks a man can put on his face, and maybe they are all true. However, I am still curious to know which one is the cover of his real ego that drives him out of cozy home and plunges him into cold water. Once in a while, I was not sure when was the end of his adventures, until Oct.25, 2016, when I heard the news that Guo got lost in the sea. I remember when I once sailed with Guo Chuan, sky above, ocean beneath; He has a faraway look in his eyes. He said to me“I only miss the land when I am at the sea”.
