A Day on the Grand Canal with the Emperor of China or: Surface Is Illusion But So Is Depth (1988)

Imagine a young Italian painter travels to China in the 18th century, hoping to impress the emperor with his art. He's granted an audience but is told to capture the essence of a single day on the grand canal. At first, he struggles to find inspiration, but as he spends time with locals, he realizes that life is full of moments of joy and heartache, of love and loss. Through his paintings, he captures the beauty and complexity of life, showing the emperor that the surface may be an illusion, but so is depth. In the end, the emperor is moved by the artist's work and gifts him with a priceless treasure: a new appreciation for the human experience.