Coming Home (Gui lai), 2014.
Directed by Zhang Yimou.
Starring Gong Li, Chen Daoming, and Zhang Huiwen.
SYNOPSIS:
In the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution, an amnesiac woman (superstar Gong Li) struggles to regain her memory and reconnect with her long-imprisoned husband.
A Chinese academic escapes from political prison after a decade of being incarcerated and seeks out his wife and daughter. The father means nothing to his only child who resents his reputation undermining her ballet career and consequently betrays him by notifying the authorities that he is going to meet her mother at the train station. A struggle occurs that sees the convict recaptured and his wife inflicted with a head injury.
Three years later the enemy of the state is released as being a reformed citizen; he goes about reuniting with his family again only to discover that his wife suffers from amnesia and does not recognize him. The academic devises a series of incidents in an attempt to overcome the memory loss and in the process gains the admiration and support of his spiteful offspring.
The opening shot of what looks like a homeless person and a speeding passenger train immediately builds a sense of intrigue. Multiple storylines are cleverly intercut, especially, building up to the train station sequence where everything goes horribly wrong for the two spouses determined to runaway together. The period production design is impressive and simplicity reigns with the cinematography which makes use of a drained colour pallet.
Complimenting the cinematic craftsmanship are the performances of the three principle actors. Chen Daoming stands out as he endearingly conveys a resourceful individual who is genuinely determined to reconnect with his ailing wife. Zhang Huiwen who portrays the daughter is able to show the emotional range of being vindictive to remorseful. The most difficult part is assigned to Gong Li who has task of playing a woman who is declining mentally. There are elements of melodrama and the final time jump unveils a bitter sweet ending.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★★★★/ Movie: ★★★★
Originally published September 6, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
