Mountains May Depart

Mountains May Depart, directed by the acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke and released in 2015, is an intimate exploration of human emotion, individual choices, and the nuanced threads of interpersonal relationships, against the vast backdrop of an evolving China and a general wave of globalization. Spanning three distinct time periods - 1999, 2014, and 2025, the narrative beautifully captures the course of life and the inevitable changes that it brings along, as experienced by three main characters - Tao (Tao Zhao), Liangzi (Jing Dong Liang), and Jinsheng (Yi Zhang).

The film begins in 1999, in the industrial town of Fenyang, introducing us to a spirited vivacious young woman, Tao, who becomes an integral part of the life of two men - Liangzi and Jinsheng. Liangzi is a modest coal miner with a sincere, undemanding love for Tao, while Jinsheng, a confident and ambitious entrepreneur, not just expresses his affection openly but is also poised to offer Tao a more materially secure life. As their personal dynamics develop, so does the socioeconomic reality of China. This leaves them at a crucial crossroads where they have to make substantial decisions that impact their intertwined lives.

Fast forward to 2014, we see the impact of their choices unfolding. Tao is now a divorced single mother, living a life far removed from her carefree days, while Liangzi battles a serious illness after years of working in the mines, a symbol of his struggle against the burgeoning capitalist wave. Jinsheng, reflecting the rapid materialistic progress, amasses significant wealth and migrates to Australia with their son, Dollar.

The narrative then shifts to future-imagined 2025. In this segment, we witness an adult Dollar in Australia trying to come to terms with his cultural dislocation, his struggle with Mandarin (reflecting the eroding connection with his roots), and the alienation from his father who's fully absorbed in the materialistic race, thereby raising important questions about the loss of identity and the cost of globalization.

Throughout the film, Jia brilliantly uses the constraints and transformations of space as a meta-language to portray the societal rippling effect of China's modernization. Whether it is Tao's provincial town slowly losing its traditional charm due to industrialization or Dollar's luxurious yet constrained urban life in Australia, Jia's depictions serve as a critique of the overbearing capitalist forces and the resulting global alienation.

The performances of the actors add multiple layers to this intricate drama. Zhao Tao, a regular collaborator of Jia, delivers a powerful performance as Tao, embodying a poignant mix of vitality, sorrow, hope, painful self-awareness, and implicit yearning with her expressive acting. Yi Zhang as Jinsheng convincingly depicts the transformation from a young ambitious man to an affluent, aloof personality. Jing Dong Liang as Liangzi serves a heartbreaking portrayal of an average man, humbled by life's harsh realities.

It's also important to acknowledge the film's aesthetic brilliance. The first segment (1999) is filmed in square aspect ratio, evoking a sense of nostalgic intimacy. The second (2014) uses a wider screen, reflecting the spreading out, both geographically and emotionally, of the characters' lives. The 2025 segment, even more expansive, masterfully brings out the futuristic, estranged feel of the narrative.

The use of music in the film is striking. The Cantonese pop song “Go West” by the Pet Shop Boys echoes throughout the movie, giving a wistful continuity to the narrative. As those familiar chords play out repeatedly, they subtly underscore the emotional trajectory of characters.

Mountains May Depart is an emotionally abundant, visually mesmerising film. It accomplishes a rare combination of personal storytelling and socio-political commentary, holding a mirror to the changing reality of contemporary China. It's a deeply moving reflection on the force of time, the choices we make, and the questions of identity that persist through our lives and beyond. As these characters navigate through their past, present, and future, the viewers too are left pondering over the broader questions of love, loss, loneliness, and the true cost of progress. In telling a story of remarkable scale and ambition, the film underscores Jia Zhangke's place as one of the most significant auteurs of modern cinema.