Ripples of Life
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Film description
Nothing ever happens in the Chinese province, so the arrival of a film crew hoping to shoot a movie that will make its way to the festival circuit causes quite a stir. Everyone knows real life can only be found in small towns – independent cinema loves stories set in the peripheries. The film's best hope for success is hiring a risings star of Chinese cinema, returning to her hometown to proudly represent her region. But nothing goes according to plan – the conflicts in the crew escalate, the script is still unfinished, and for the star, returning home is an unwanted reminder of her past, so she might have to be replaced by a waitress from a local diner. Abandon hope, all ye who enter here – the Chinese dream factory is no longer making art, its products are more akin to soap operas overflowing with problems and intrigues.
The novella-structured "Ripples of Life" talk about the hardships of collective filmmaking. Wei offers an in-depth look at the process, deconstructing the myth of the auteur. Everyone is subjected to the merciless critique – the crew, the cast, the film critics, and the small-town upstarts. The sword of irony doesn't spare even the Korean master Hong Sang-soo, whose spirit hovers over Wei Shujun's distorted mirror.
The film was screened during the 17th Five Flavors, becoming one of the most warmly received competition titles. “Ripples of Life” returns to the festival program to compensate for the absence of three titles presented online at the 18th Five Flavors.
text:
Łukasz Mańkowski
Shujun Wei
Born in 1991. Film director who started off as an actor and a rap artist. The only Chinese filmmaker with all three feature films screened at Cannes. His second movie "Ripples of Life" was made by accident, without a plan, but was immediately praised by critics. It is a record of the director's struggle at the film set, ironically portraying the specific world of Chinese independent productions.
2020 Krocząc pod wiatr / Ye ma fen zong / Striding Into the Wind
2021 Strzępy życia / Yong an Zhen Gu Shi Ji / Ripples of Life
2023 Tylko rzeka płynie / He bian de cuo wu / Only the River Flows
