164. Ash Is Purest White (江湖儿女); movie review

ASH IS PUREST WHITE (江湖儿女)
Cert 15
136 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong violence

Even decades after the death of Chairman Mao and the disappearance of the uniforms which used to be synonymous with China, it remains a country of mystery.
But at least the veil is being partially lifted by Chinese movies punctuating the British cinema calendar.
And there are pictures, such as Ash Is Purest White, which have received acclaimed festival screenings.
However, let's not suggest that suddenly that it is an open book. Jia Zhang-ke's movie needs heightened attention and even then, it doesn't follow the easiest of paths.
It stars Zhao Tao as Qiao whose boyfriend Bin (Liao Fan) is a gangster in a depressed mining town.
He works for a corrupt property developer. who is murdered and subsequently ascends in rank within the criminal brotherhood.
But with power comes hostility and his girlfriend saves him from assassination by firing a gun at a young gang who have ambushed them.
She then faces a decision of whether to drop him in it with the authorities or take a five-year prison stretch.
Despite its plaudits, Ash Is Purest White didn't resonate with me.
Sure, there is an insight into China's underworld and there are many an outside scene which demonstrates the country's development.
But I suppose my problem lay in my lack of empathy for Qiao because it appeared to me that she is a user.
Her only selfless act is helping her boyfriend but, even then, I wondered whether she did it to maintain her position rather than through love.

Reasons to watch: Acclaimed Chinese drama
Reasons to avoid: Meanders too much for some

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 6/10

Did you know? China's Director of Public Order, Li Jingsheng, has claimed it is "one of the safest countries in the world." He says that gun crime fell by 27.6% in 2018.

The final word. Jia Zhang-ke: "I now have 48 years of life experiences and I want to use them to tell a love story set in a contemporary China which has gone through epic and dramatic transformations."

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