China/Hong Kong | 2006 | Jia Zhang-ke

Winner of the top prize at the 2006 Venice Film Festival, the fifth feature from the maker of The World, A Touch of Sin, and Ash Is Purest White remains one of Jia Zhang-ke’s greatest works. It’s a poignant tale in which two Chinese people return to their ancient village of Fengjie as it is being destroyed and submerged during the construction of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River. (This massive hydroelectric project displaced 1.2 million Chinese people.) A middle-aged miner searches for his wife who left him 16 years earlier and for the daughter he has never met; and a nurse looks for her estranged, workaholic husband, an engineer on the project. Both individuals must decide what is worth salvaging in their lives and what they need to let go of. Stunningly shot on location, this contemplative film is another exquisite mood piece from the foremost chronicler of changing China. Cleveland revival premiere. Mandarin with subtitles. 108 min.

Still Life, a Cinematheque streaming exclusive, can be viewed online from 10/2 thru at least 10/22 via the link below. (Doing so supports the Cinematheque.) Screening fee is $10, and after opening the film, you have 72 hours to watch it. 

https://bigworldpictures.vhx.tv/products/still-life-the-cinematheque