【Mockumentary Special】 Journey to the West (Mainland China, 2021, PG)

Rating: PG – Parental guidance recommended for younger viewers; contains coarse language.

This might be the most unique science fiction film you will ever see. Journey to the West is not a conventional sci-fi drama but a work that deliberately blurs the line between the imagined and the real, weaving them together into a strange yet authentic cinematic world.

The film adopts the style of a mockumentary, using humor, absurdity, and documentary-like realism to tell the story of a struggling magazine editorial team in search of extraterrestrial life. Its offbeat tone and surreal storytelling create moments that are both comical and unsettling, giving the film a character unlike anything else in contemporary cinema.

At its core, Journey to the West is more than a search for aliens. Beneath the laughter and absurd encounters lies a profound reflection on human ideals, disillusionment, and the longing for meaning. The pursuit of the unknown becomes a metaphor for our own struggles with faith, purpose, and survival, making this film as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.

Location: Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1000
Date and Time: Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 6:30 PM
Fee: Free entry!

Note: We’re hosting the event on the second floor of the Ellen Melville Center. Please use the entrance on the right side of the building on the ground floor. Once you go up to the second floor, you’ll see our venue right there.