What It’s About
In a bizarre future reality, humans get immortality by giving up the capacity to dream, and thus the ability to experience cinema. The Deliriant (Yee) is one of the few remaining hold-outs, and Mystery Woman (Shu) is sent to destroy him. Taking pity on this miserable creature, she gives him a hundred more years of dreams before he finally perishes. The shape-shifting Deliriant then navigates an eventful twentieth century in China, with each sequence recalling a different period and style of film, until the Millennium hits.
Why We Love It
Bi Gan’s gorgeous, audacious “Resurrection” is every bit as trippy as it sounds. At once a sci-fi tale, meditation on mortality and tribute to the wondrous, dreamlike power of movies, viewers should just surrender to this stunning, surreal exercise, and avoid trying to connect all the dots. Jingsong Dong’s vibrant cinematography transforms the director’s astonishing vision into art in motion – a love letter to cinema itself, and the way it lets us dream. Though decidedly not for everyone, this wild film rewards repeat viewings. If possible, see “Resurrection” on a big screen.