The Botanist

The Botanist (2026)



植物学家

5.0 2026 96 min China

Director: Jing Yi

Cast: Jahseleh Yesl, Ren Zihan, Nurdaolet Jalen, Eramazan Sarhet, Jomajan Songhat

Drama Fantasy
Deep within a secluded Xinjiang village, a young Kazakh boy named Arsin discovers comfort among the plants that surround him. His quiet world shifts when he meets Meiyu, a lively Han girl whose wild, unpredictable spirit echoes the rarest of botanical wonders. Their growing bond transforms into a fragile, dreamy fable—one where the borders between real life and the magical realm of flora gently dissolve.

More About This Film

The Botanist is a Chinese coming-of-age drama set in a remote village in Xinjiang. Thirteen-year-old Arsin, a lonely Kazakh boy who finds comfort in collecting and cataloging plants, meets Meiyu, a spirited Han girl whose arrival gradually changes his quiet world.

Jing Yi combines natural landscapes, minimal dialogue and touches of magical realism to create a dreamlike portrait of first friendship and first love. The film also observes the lives of young people in an isolated region while using plants as an emotional and symbolic language.

  • Directed and written by Jing Yi in his feature debut.
  • Stars Jahseleh Yesl, Ren Zihan, Jalen Nurdaolet, Eramazan Sarhet and Songhat Jomajan.
  • The film is set in rural Xinjiang.
  • It won the Grand Prix for Best Film at Berlinale Generation Kplus in 2025.
  • It also received the FIPRESCI Prize at the Hong Kong International Film Festival and a Young Jury Award at Munich.

Where to Watch

The Botanist has a strong festival and arthouse release history, with digital availability depending on territory.