Mountains May Depart

Jia Zhangke's tripartite film continues the celebrated but controversial Chinese filmmaker's portrayal of the radical changes in his country since the economic reforms that were initiated in the 1980s. The first chapter, beginning in 1999 at a time of promise, depicts a romantic triangle in which young dance teacher Tao (Zhao Tao) chooses to marry ambitious businessman Jinsheng (Zhang Yi) rather than Liangzi (Liang Jin Dong), the simple coal miner whom she really loves. The union results in the birth of a son, whom Jinsheng names Dollar as proof of his capitalist aspirations. By the second chapter, set in 2014, the marriage has ended in divorce, and Jinsheng, who is now enormously rich, plans a move from Shanghai to Australia, taking along Dollar, who he has spoiled but otherwise neglected. Tao, meanwhile, reconnects briefly with Liangzi, who is suffering from lung cancer and in desperate need of financial help. The final act, taking place in Melbourne, circa 2025, finds teen Dollar (Dong Zijian) increasingly estranged from both his angry, paranoid father and his Chinese heritage (Dollar speaks little Mandarin, and barely remembers his mother). A kindly teacher (Sylvia Chang), who basically functions as a maternal surrogate, tries to help Dollar find his way, but the film suggests that the boy might be part of a lost, rootless generation. The melodramatic turns of Mountains May Depart are not always convincing, but the beauty of the filmmaking coupled with the strong political message animating the story make this a compelling watch. Recommended. (F. Swietek)