Plot: Zhu is a respected actor, but roles are getting scarcer and he struggles to find anything he can commit to. To reconnect with himself, he undertakes a solo trip to the island where he first met his wife. It's a remote place that is all about small fisheries. The people living there don't often get visitors and they're wrapped up in their little dramas. Zhu wanders around and connects with the locals he bumps into, while reminiscing about the old days, hoping to piece together the events that led to his current predicament. But the darkness hiding deep within Zhu needs a release.
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February 08, 2025
Chi Zhang's first feature film. It's a bit more classic arthouse fare, with light crime and mystery elements, but Zhang's eye for beautiful framing and lighting is already in full effect. It's a moody, dreamy film with an interesting lead character and an intriguing setting that weaves drama and genre elements skillfully together. I'm not sure why this film slipped through the cracks (apart from winning a festival prize in Russia), but if you like Chinese arthouse cinema peppered with minor genre elements, this is a film worth seeking out.