Let’s handle the elephant within the room. Li Ruijun’s 2022 movie Return to Dust was promptly banned in China below suspicious circumstances after its comparatively profitable launch. When a movie like that is banned in its dwelling nation, maybe that’s nearly as good an indication as any that it has an influence — even when the message isn’t what the powers at be would possibly essentially desire. Return to Dust is a tragic romance of the best order, and if international censors are lower than happy with its grounded depiction of financial realities in rural China, then the loss is theirs alone. Imagine if classics like Bicycle Thieves weren’t accessible due to some ruffled feathers.
Ma Youtie (Wu Renlin), AKA “Fourth Brother,” is a humble farmer within the arid countryside of China. As his nickname would point out, he’s low on the household’s totem pole, however he’s however assigned a spouse to marry. She is Cao Guiying (Hai Qing), an incontinent lady affected by a debilitating (and undiagnosed) sickness. There’s no chemistry to talk of as they start their lives collectively, however their efforts to enhance their existence via guide labor begin to kindle a flame neither has skilled earlier than. Local politics rapidly complicate their lives. Youtie, who carries an especially uncommon blood sort (referred to as panda blood in China), is actually compelled to provide his blood for his nation so a sick native Party official can obtain obligatory transfusions. To make issues worse, a brand new coverage of beautifying the countryside forces the pair to go away their dwelling so older buildings will be razed.
“…compelled to give his blood for his nation…”
The movie’s coronary heart is centered on the married couple’s efforts to assemble a brand new dwelling by hand. It’s grueling work, however via Li’s beautiful visuals and mastery of pacing, we turn out to be engrossed by the small print not solely of the labor however by their burgeoning love. Seemingly small gestures of affection like Cao bringing her Youtie a jar of scorching water or Youtie serving to Cao wash in an area stream communicate volumes, rather more than the exposition dumps we’re used to seeing in lesser movies.
The two leads play in stark distinction to what we anticipate from romance movies. One wets the mattress, the opposite toils within the mud to make bricks. This is the furthest possible level from a Netflix authentic te can get, and that’s a win in my e-book. The seasons slowly go, and the home grows exponentially in tempo with their love for one another. Viewers will likely be shocked at how a lot they find yourself caring for these two pure-hearted people (and their lovable donkey, whose bell rapidly turns into a sound one received’t neglect anytime quickly). s
I’m merely blown away by this movie and stand confused that it didn’t take off after its 2022 Berlinale premiere. It’s a crying disgrace the way forward for Return to Dust is doubtful. The less-than-flattering illustration of a destitute pair of rural laborers refusing to succumb to the pressures of urbanization was sure to fire up some controversy. The movie was a shock success with the Chinese public, although, proof sufficient that it resonated with large swaths of audiences. Art all the time wins, although, and I warning readers to not miss this new Chinese traditional.
