Write a short summary of what happens in the film.

The story begins with an excerpt from the legendary tale. In ancient times, the pinchers (later became crabs) were thought to be a vast, rampant, destructive force. The fear of this unknown creature was at odds with the reality. Many misunderstood it, naively fearing it.... There were even rumors that one bite could lead to mutation! As the pinchers emerge from the water, fear grows. Thankfully, Baron Pax Xie is sent in to deal with the crisis. Nevertheless, the villagers take the fight to this frightening foe, killing and wounding the pinchers with fire in a devastating onslaught. But the villagers are still afraid. To dispel the fear of the unknown, Pax Xie bravely picks up a dead pincher and tastes it. The pinchers go from being a terrifying unknown to delicacies on the dining table. The heroic Pax Xie, then becomes known as “The first man to eat crab".

Cultural / Context information for the jury

"The first man to eat crab" is a Chinese saying. We use it to describe people who are brave enough to try new things. The story of "The first man to eat crab" originates from The Classic of Mountains and Seas, an ancient Chinese literary work. In honor of Pak Xie’s bravery, people named the crab “Xie” — the same pronunciation as his name. The name merges two Chinese characters together — the top part is Pak Xie’s name character, and the bottom part is a character called “Chong” (the symbol for strange creature in Chinese).

Tell the jury about the production design / art direction.

The feeling of the Classic of Mountains and Seas is expressed from the start, through traditional Chinese ink painting, evoking the story’s ancient heritage. The film’s black and white style adds to its atavistic, Chinese charm. The exaggerated interpretation of pinchers as terrifying beasts, paves the way for the development of the story. What’s more, the gripping yet exaggerated performances of the actors add humorous, heartwarming touches to the narrative.