For Half Time, ZHANG applies a realist aesthetic to focus on the hardship of a Chinese technical intern named Qingyang. His fortunes had already been trending downwards before he reached Japan. Now, at 39 and with a kid to support in China, debts to pay off, a lack of Japanese language proficiency, and despicable brokers guiding him, he labours under a lot of stress and yet tries his best to secure a job, any job, in a series of humiliating interviews orchestrated by people keen to exploit him.