Return to Dust

Ruijun Li

Filmfestival

Sat 22 Apr 23 - Fri 28 Apr 23

22 Apr

11:00 - 13:11

Turnhout

UGC

Past event
26 Apr

20:00 - 22:11

Deinze

Leietheater

Past event
27 Apr

17:00 - 19:11

Brugge

Cinema Lumière

Past event
28 Apr

14:00 - 16:11

Turnhout

UGC

Past event

A shy farmer has to marry a disabled woman. By working the land together, the two lost souls unexpectedly develop an intimate relationship.

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Ma is an introvert farmer and the last in his family to be unwed. Guiying is disabled, infertile and beyond the appropriate age to marry. Their arranged marriage seems doomed to fail, but instead of giving up, they seize their chance to rise above themselves. Slowly they learn how to talk, work, laugh and live together.

This Chinese countryside drama is steeped in intense vulnerability, subtle tenderness and deep humanity. With subjects as farmer exploitation, forced urbanisation and conquering traditions and poverty, this film even has a kaleidoscopic perspective. ‘Return to Dust’ is a strong specimen of slow cinema about an unexpected bond between two rejected souls.

direction: Ruijun Li
cast: Renlin Wu, Hai-Qing, Shengfu Li
duration: 131 min
year: 2022
country: China
language: Mandarin
Subtitles: Dutch, French