What It’s About
In the rural Ganza province of China, struggling, middle-aged itinerant farmer Youtie (Wu) and sickly spinster Guiyang (Hai) are an ongoing burden on their respective families, so the two are hastily united in an arranged marriage. What initially appears a dubious union gradually morphs into something wholly unexpected. As together they struggle and undergo back-breaking labor to (barely) survive in a rapidly transforming China, these two miscasts forge a bond of trust, respect, and affection.
Why We Love It
China did its best to suppress release of this affecting film, as it portrays how the country has turned its back on the plight of rural farmers, threatening a whole way of life and causing many workers in rural provinces to migrate to urban areas. There’s even a move to displace residents and bulldoze houses in farming communities. Through all the indignities and injustice, Youtie and Guiyang draw comfort and solidarity in working the land, even as their own country marginalizes them. Director Ruijun Lee tells his story with finesse and restraint, so “Return” avoids sentimentality or the need for an obvious political statement. Just observing the simple dignity of this couple as they toil each day speaks volumes.