What It’s About
Amidst the tumult of early 21st century China, the serene, observant Qiao Qiao (Zhao) falls for Bin (Li) in the city of Datong. Bin’s a low-level criminal who seems beneath her and treats her shabbily, eventually abandoning her. Qiao Qiao then begins a silent search for him, across decades and a rapidly transforming China.
Why We Love It
Director Jia’s brilliant meditation on love and country derived from a daring conceit – portraying a quarter century of Chinese life by using outtakes from his older films where he’d previously cast Zhao (his real-life wife) and Li. It works seamlessly. Jia employs dialogue sparingly; Zhao’s stunning performance is all expression as she absorbs the rapid pace of change around her. What she sees in the loutish Bin we never quite get, but that’s beside the point. She’s compelled to search. The lack of dialogue and linear plot may deter some viewers, but fans of serious art-house cinema should appreciate this haunting rumination on modern China and its people.