Home by The River (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Home by The River follows teacher Fen Ti as she returns to a primary school for thesis research and takes an interest in two children who often play alone. Her attention helps reveal their circumstances while giving them a renewed sense of confidence.

Home by The River is a 2026 Chinese drama about the connection between a teacher and two children at a primary school. The story begins when Fen Ti returns to the school to conduct research for a thesis.

There, she notices Shi Niuniu and Mao Ye, two students who frequently spend time playing by themselves. Her decision to pay closer attention to them becomes the central relationship in this quietly focused school story.

Home by The River movie details

Story without spoilers

Teacher Fen Ti returns to a primary school while researching for her thesis. During her time there, she becomes aware of Shi Niuniu and Mao Ye, two children who often play alone.

Rather than overlooking their behavior, Fen Ti takes the time to understand them. As she learns more about the reason behind their isolation, her concern affects both children. The attention they receive helps them regain confidence, forming the emotional foundation of the film without revealing how their circumstances develop.

What to expect

The supplied information presents Home by The River as a character-centered drama set around a primary school. Its focus is on observation, care and the effect that meaningful attention can have on children who feel apart from those around them.

The premise suggests a restrained, human-scale story built around teacher-student interactions and the gradual discovery of the children’s situation. The film’s listed genre and synopsis point toward an emotional drama rather than a story driven by action or spectacle.

Cast and creative team

Liu Pan plays Fen Ti, the teacher at the center of the story. Zhang Mengxin appears as Shi Niuniu, while Liu Yurong plays Mao Ye. Jing Xiaodan is credited as Jiao Lianqing.

Zhang Zhonghua directs Home by The River and is also credited as its writer, making the film a director-written drama.

• Zhang Mengxin as Shi Niuniu
• Liu Pan as Fen Ti
• Liu Yurong as Mao Ye
• Jing Xiaodan as Jiao Lianqing

Release and production context

Home by The River is listed as a 2026 release, with a release date of September 20, 2026. It is marked as released in the supplied metadata, although no runtime is provided.

The film is from China, is in Mandarin, and lists iQIYI as its production company. Its genre is Drama, and “students” is the supplied keyword connected with the film.

Production companies: iQIYI

Movies Dock view

With its school setting and emphasis on a teacher’s attention to two isolated children, Home by The River centers on a simple but emotionally meaningful premise. The available details position it as a Mandarin-language Chinese drama about understanding, reassurance and the gradual return of confidence.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb