Zi, 2026.
Written and Directed by Kogonada.
Starring Michelle Mao, Haley Lu Richardson, and Jin Ha.
SYNOPSIS:
In Hong Kong, a young woman haunted by visions of her future self meets a stranger who changes the course of her night – and possibly her life.
Not knowing whether one is existing in the past, present, or future is a tantalizing, fantastical idea with limitless potential for profundity, yet here in Zi, writer/director Kogonada seems entirely lost on what he wants to do with the concept. Instead, there is an aimless flow, as the filmmaker is more interested in paying respects to Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and poetically striking sights courtesy of skilled cinematographer Benjamin Loeb, rather than even attempting to make sense of a story and its characters from this.
Ostensibly, the film is about the eponymous Zi (Michelle Mao), who has sought neurologic treatment for the phenomena she is experiencing, only to be told that it is possibly the result of a tumor and that she must return to the center in 24 hours for more medical information. Naturally, she is freaking out, having an existential crisis, missing her parents, and wandering around Hong Kong lost. That is where she comes across L (the expressively gifted Haley Lu Richardson, a regular collaborator of the filmmaker), a woman who she believes she knows out of time from one of the visions that keep flashing through her head (it is one we get a glimpse of that seems to depict the two as friends in older age), and who is more than willing to tag along on sightseeing adventures around Hong Kong after listening that, no matter how improbable this sounds, Zi is confident that they know each other.
L also tells Zi that her former partner is a neurological researcher, meaning that after some aimless prancing around Hong Kong, they end up at Min’s (Jin Ha) apartment, where the former lovers reconnect and reminisce. It is also made known that Zi and L once pursued their artistic passions, but no longer do so, believing it didn’t love them back. That’s understandable; it hurts when you give something you’re all and nothing comes of it.
Apparently, Kogonada made this film on a whim, without a script, in the wake of artistic and financial disappointment with last year’s Margot Robbie/Colin Farrell-led time-travel romance A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, which also explored similar ideas. That lack of a plan or vision shows: yes, bits and pieces of knowledge about these characters come into play, but these actors are plainly improvising their way through nonsense that is nonetheless visually striking and strongly expressed. If this is supposed to be the nonmainstream, experimental take on that concept, unfortunately, Zi is a worse film. There is some intention in that the connection between Zi and L is meant to reignite their artistic passions, complete with a dash of unearned late romance that feels tossed in as male fantasy writing rather than anything narratively moving.
That’s without even getting into the several aspects of this attempt at a story that are entirely unclear, including a baffling final 20 minutes with no intent to explain more about the discussed research center; it’s talked about as if it’s a place that will strip Zi of her artistic passion once and for all, instead of legitimate science. Aside from a couple of sweet moments here and there of authentic acting selling some of this connection alongside an inviting, picturesque depiction of Hong Kong, Zi is a chore to get through. Just as the letter is at the back of the alphabet, this movie should also be at the back of one’s mind.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★
Robert Kojder
