‘Walking Past the Future’ makes waves
CANNES, France: Chinese director Li Ruijun’s Walking Past the Future is making waves at the 70th Cannes Film Festival.
It has been selected for the “Un Certain Regard” ( In some perspective) section of the festival. During its screening last weekend it drew largely positive reviews.
Through the movie, Li featured the life of a family from the first generation of migrant workers in China. The parents of the heroine Yang Yaoting had worked in Shenzhen for 20 years.
Then poor health led to their dismissal.
They then returned to their village in northwest China’s Gansu province with their two daughters. However, living in the countryside proved challenging.
So Yang, the eldest daughter, returns to Shenzhen, and dreams of buying an apartment for her family.
I watched all the Chinese films every year (at Cannes Film Festival). Although it is a worldwide film festival, we think the future of the movie and innovative works are in the East.
The Chinese director said he was “honoured and surprised” to have been selected by the festival. For him, the film reflects the other side of Chinese social development by telling a “family and love story”, which could touch the audience all over the world.
After the screening, Dany Wolf, American producer, said the film is “different” and “powerful”, and he was deeply touched.
Turkish journalist Defne Gursoy Birgun said the film, with a universal concern, is the most human film she has watched in recent years.
She argued that during the post-industrial era, migration from cities to the countryside represented a challenge for all countries.
“I watched all the Chinese films every year (at Cannes Film Festival). Although it is a worldwide film festival, we think the future of the movie and innovative works are in the East,” said the journalist.
Li is making his debut at the festival, although his works had previously been selected for many other international cinema gatherings.
He took part in the 2014 International Festival of Tokyo with the film River Road, and in 2012, Venice International Festival with Fly with the Crane.
Defne Gursoy Birgun, Turkish journalist