農場富二代鍾理和愛上女工鍾平妹，雖然身分高低不是阻礙，但同姓卻是客家人成婚大忌。兩年後，鍾理和回臺帶走平妹私奔，期盼在原鄉中國找到活下去的生機。平妹為了支持丈夫的寫作夢想，即使懷孕仍扛起家中生計重擔。但戰火無情，強烈反日情緒迫使他們返臺，歸隱山林的鍾理和一邊寫作一邊教書，長期積勞下患上肺病。儘管如此，他仍緊握筆桿在稿紙上築夢，在每一個格子中展現生命力。

根據臺灣客家文學作家鍾理和短篇小說、散文及其生平改編而成。李行執導，秦漢、林鳳嬌主演，電影遠赴韓國取景，拍攝鍾理和與妻子平妹奔赴中國的際遇，也回到其故鄉美濃實地拍攝，並採用當地民眾擔任臨時演員，鍾理和後代亦參與演出。《原鄉人》由國家電影及視聽文化中心受財團法人客家公共傳播基金會委託，於2023年完成數位修復，財團法人客家公共傳播基金會復邀請專業配音員及美濃在地鄉親重新配音，製作為全新客語版本。今年度高雄電影節將同時映演以原始素材修復之國語版本及修復後重新配音之客語版本。

CHUNG Li-ho, a wealthy second-generation farmer, falls in love with one of his farm girls, Ping-mei. Two years later, they elope, seeking a fresh start in his homeland of China. Li-ho drives a taxi to make a living, yet he can't forsake his passion for writing. Ping-mei, despite her pregnancy, shoulders the financial load to support his aspiration. However, the pervasive anti-Japanese sentiments during the war eventually compel their return to Taiwan. Settling in the mountains, Li-ho works as a writer and teacher, but develops pulmonary disease. Thanks to Ping-mei's unwavering support and care, Li-ho finds the strength to face every rejection. He stays up many nights to transcribe his dreams onto paper, infusing every word with life's spirit.