Ever the chronicler of inter-generational relations in China, Director Zhang Yang takes us into the world of an aging population and alienation between the generations in his heart warming tale of a group of irrepressible senior citizens all in their 70’s and 80’s living in a nursing home who are energized when one of them decides that they should compete in a television acting/variety show competition.  Although some are afflicted with serious illnesses and others are slightly demented, and some have been abandoned by their children, all of them have a charm and an energy which is infectious. In short order they all have a common dream of participating in the competition which will soon be taking place in a faraway city near the seaside.  Although they have no acting training they rehearse their hearts out, but the head of the nursing home stops them because she does not want to be held liable in case anyone gets hurt.  Our intrepid seniors have to take things into their own hands by buying a bus and sneaking out on this trip of a lifetime.  Along the way, they start to see that their dreams can become reality and they find peace and happiness which had been missing from their lives. Like professionals, they make it to the competition just in time and in a performance of a lifetime win over the judges and the audience while resolving their issues with their families and with each other. With their dream achieved and their journey nearly complete there is just one more stop along the way.