Watch Mountains May Depart

In the movie Mountains May Depart, director Jia Zhangke explores the changing lives and relationships of three characters over a period of 25 years. The film is divided into three parts, each set in a different year - 1999, 2014, and 2025. The first part introduces us to a group of friends in the rural town of Fenyang, China. Shen Tao (Tao Zhao) is a young and beautiful woman who is courted by two suitors - Liangzi (Jing Dong Liang), an honest and hardworking miner, and Zhang Jinsheng (Yi Zhang), a wealthy businessman. Despite Liangzi's love for Tao, she ultimately chooses to marry Zhang, who promises her a life of luxury and comfort.

In the second part of the film, set in 2014, we see Tao as a divorced mother living in Shanghai with her son, Dollar. She is unhappy with her materialistic lifestyle and misses her old friends and simple life in Fenyang. Meanwhile, Zhang has become a successful businessman but has lost touch with his true self and is estranged from his adult son, who lives in Australia.

The final part of the film, set in 2025, shows us a world where technology has advanced to the point where robots have replaced manual labor and human interaction has become increasingly virtual. Tao is now in her 50s and dying of lung cancer. Dollar, now a young man, visits her in the hospital with his girlfriend, a socially awkward robot named Mia. In this lonely and isolated future, the relationship between Dollar and Mia serves as a stark contrast to the warmth and intimacy of Tao's friendships in the past.

Throughout the film, Jia Zhangke explores themes of love, friendship, regret, and the impact of modernization on Chinese society. He presents a nuanced and complex portrayal of his characters, taking care to depict both their strengths and weaknesses. The film is visually stunning, with beautiful cinematography capturing the vast landscapes of rural China as well as the sleek modernity of Shanghai.

While Mountains May Depart is a slow-paced film that demands patience and attention from its viewers, it is a moving and thought-provoking exploration of the human experience. The film offers a poignant reflection on the passage of time and the fragility of human connections in an ever-changing world.

Tao Zhao gives a standout performance as Shen Tao, imbuing her character with a quiet strength and grace as she navigates the challenges of life. Yi Zhang is also impressive as Zhang Jinsheng, conveying the character's inner turmoil with subtlety and nuance.

Overall, Mountains May Depart is a must-see for fans of arthouse cinema and those interested in exploring the complexities of modern China. It is a film that lingers in the mind, inviting reflection and contemplation long after the credits have rolled.

Mountains May Depart is a 2016 romance movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 11 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 79.