Mountains May Depart

Starts so well before that terrible, terrible third act. Crash and burn.

This film starts with an optimistic, energetic and youthful feel to it, with 'Go West' by Pet Shop Boys playing. It is upbeat in the first half but not entirely. It's a sobering family drama about freedom - personal freedom and Chinese cultural expectations, I suppose. It's a bit slow, plot wise, mid-way through and may bore some but I thought it's reasonably good. I'm not sure I'd especially recommend this as such - it doesn't stand out entirely but it's certainly not bad, if that helps at all.

Zhao Tao smiles, I smile.

About 25 years ago, Jia Zhangke wrote a story. Every couple of years since then, he rehashes it - and with the story being as multi-faceted as the changes of a quickly developing China, I'm not one to complain. Where I do object is his bungled attempt to go beyond his Fenyang roots in the catastrophic English-language third act, making this film far from his strongest. (Though it may quite possibly be Zhao Tao's best!)

The most bizarre thing is that it kind of works.

i'm still crying with go west on loop

The whole 2025 part is hideous, but the first two thirds and the very last bit of the movie are spectacular. It's suprising how much soul and emotion there is in the movie, considering how dull the overall premise is. Lots of small and subtle, yet very interesing touches, greatly add to the experience. Great movie, great director, glad I stumbled upon Jia.

Viewed December 3, 2016.

An effective showcase of the cultural schism inside China created by the economic growth. The lost of roots leads to breaking old bonds, and to search a new home and a new identity, that can be also the old roots, or maybe it's just nostalgia. Freedom is a double-edge weapon.

I like Pet Shop Boys as much as the next guy, but this sure was a clunky, tone-deaf mess.

Go West

Very strong effort from Jia, probably his most accessible, and his most emotionally engaged film. The first two acts are exquisite, a few missteps in the final act involving English dialogue (the Google translate line is awful). However, when he finally cuts back to Zhao Tao in the final few minutes to the end--the personal and political come together in a powerful and complex final sequence.

The societal pressures and constraints of China are old themes for Zhangke, only this time the burden of freedom also figures into the quasi spiritual search for home. And for a change it's not primarily analytical - there's heart to the story.

Very moving

Intriguing drama set in China as we follow a lady through 3 periods. 1999, 2014 and into the future of 2025. The tones are set well for the first two 'eras', while the future portion was both emotionally enchanting and corny. Did feel the story didn't come full circle, but there is a beating heart here.

Filmekimi - Atlas Sineması.