Amor Até as Cinzas

Excellent, deep drama with touches of crime/romance, mysterious and full of surprises. Slow but constant build-up, if you let it in it will pay off. A bit of cultural tourism. The leading female is outstanding. Definitely recommended to get into new chinese cinema.

I guess life accumulates and there's no way to purify it, not even by fire, hence the title, maybe. You're up and down and up and down again, but this entanglement of meaning goes deep, as it may also apply to China's severeness, where it's hard to start over and one seems to be stuck on one path by law, pride and a sense of righteousness, or maybe stubborness.

We follow the evolution and the misguidance of a mafia couple for a decade. With highs (classically: money, feeling of power, ...) and lows (to be discovered!). I did not know Tao Zhao: she plays perfectly

Ash is Purest White is a tumultuous story of two people who were lovers in a forgone life. After spending 5 years in prison for a man she loves dearly, she is finally released. Qiao (Tao Zhao) is a woman searching in the past for a life that no longer exists. Bin (Fan Liao), a gangster thrust into the role of mob boss, also faced the consequences of having to find a new life once he left prison. Disillusioned by his past gangster life he moved away from Shang Xi. Their return into each other's lives is difficult to navigate and highlights the societal and economic changes in China that has occurred from 2001 to 2006/2007.

Ash is Purest White is a reflective and poignant movie that beams with beautiful,subtle commentary on a changing world.

Qiao is cool headed, smart, responsible and resourceful; good qualities to have when your boyfriend is a gangster. When Bin, her man, gets into trouble, Qiao gets him out of it. She fades into the background when Bin needs to take the spotlight. Qiao even takes a fall for Bin when he needs her in a pinch. And that is when he forgets her. Qiao emerges from five years in prison to cold indifference. To Bin, it is as if she did not exist. "People should keep their emotions in check" Bin's new woman tells Qiao. And even China seems to have forsaken her. This is a land where cities are swallowed whole by reservoirs, and the dark water is rising around Qiao. But this ingenious woman is going to get her groove back and do what is right, Bin or no Bin.

Such depth and beauty to each element of this enthralling film. The cinematography is luminous, characters are fascinating, the story is not predictable, and bits of modern China are revealed for the complex wonders that they are. Depth is everywhere. Surprises are constant. Analogies are all around; tigers lurk in cages, a volcano looms in the distance, and a street performer picks out Qiao from a crowd and sings to her "who knew I'd ever see you again." He speaks to her heart but does not know it. The actor who plays Bin has one expression in his bag of tricks, so he could have been better, but otherwise the acting is quite good. North American premiere seen at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival.

This is an intense movie. It's is less about the story, which is long, both in terms of movie length but also the time period of 2001 to 2018, than it is about the lead character and her protagonist, her love. Both Tao and Fan are exceptional. Understated yet convey such power. The hotel scene is superb.

This is a film of character. Of stoicism. Of progress but indomitable tradition. A pseudo love story but rather one of belief and strength. An excellent and absorbing character study.

An enjoyable journey into a land and character unfamiliar.