In Jia Zhangke’s three-chapter drama “Ash is Purest White” our focus is placed on a woman named Qiao (Tao Zhao). We observe as she navigates three very different phases of her life, all to a shifting Chinese landscape. It’s a cynical yet strikingly realistic portrayal of love, devotion, and the consequences that can come with them.
It’s hard not to be drawn in by Jia Zhangke’s intoxicating visual technique. Just as much story is told through the poetic gaze of his camera as through the film’s dialogue. This approach demands a capable, multifaceted central performance and we certainly get it from Tao Zhao. The sheer range of emotion and experience she brings is truly impressive. She crafts a character full of grit and determination, but also sensitive and mournful.
The film begins in 2001 where Qiao lives a life of plenty with her boyfriend Bin (Liao Fan). He has considerable clout as a crime boss in Datong where local industry is succumbing to China’s sweeping economic change. Bin runs his crew by a strict code of ethics which demands respect and honor among thieves. But his rule hits a wall when he is beaten by a gang of young thugs. In a quick moment of sacrifice, Qiao saves Bin’s life but ends up in prison for her efforts.
From there Qiao’s journey makes two significant stops on Zhangke’s timeline. First in 2006 where she is released from prison and setting out to find Bin who she hasn’t heard from since being incarcerated. The final stop is present day where we find Qiao and Bin’s relationship taking on yet another drastically different form. Throughout her journey Qiao shows a quiet ferocity and unshakable ability to take care of herself. At the same time you see a growing melancholy as certain truths become clearer to her.
Again, you can’t help but notice the parallels between the film’s central relationship and the dramatic evolution of the country itself. China’s cultural and economic transitions play out mostly in the background but Zhangke’s camera has a way of making them a part of the story. They are broad changes with seemingly no regard for the people they leave behind. And there is an unmistakable harmony between them and what we see between Qiao and Bin.
Whether his focus is on a love story or the criminal underworld, Zhangke’s storytelling has a hypnotic quality to it. With a few rare exceptions, his film features no dramatic highs or lows. It gets in no hurry and moves to its own slow and steady rhythm, perhaps too slow at times. But even as it wanders there is no shortage of captivating visuals or thoughtful character work to take in.
“Ash is Purest White” is full of empathy, longing, and a surprising amount of restraint considering the film’s gangster element and the eruptive metaphor within its title. It’s an auteur’s epic spotlighting a personal journey through a land of intense modernization. And the feeling it conveys through the camera and Tao Zhao’s performance is cinema in its purest form.
VERDICT – 4 STARS
Keith & the Movies 
Ooh will have to have a look out for this.
It took me a while to find it. It finally came to a couple of streaming platforms. It’s worth seeking out.
Cheers will try.
Nice review. the words are true, hypnotic and poetic plus the performances. a great movie. so far, i consider this the best movie I have seen this year.
Oh nice! Good to hear from someone else who has seen it. The performances really shine and it’s hard not to be swept up in the story.
This has been in my watchlist since I heard about the film last year. It played at an arthouse theater near Emory but I haven’t had the time to see it as it’s gone and I doubt I’ll be going there.
It’s definitely worth checking out. It never hit a theater in my area but it has popped up on demand. It’s one I’ve had my eye on for a while.
Okay you have unravelled what I missed, when I first watched this I had no idea at all what had happened. I must have under-tired as all hell, I’ve never watched a film and had such a little idea what was happening! I was probably falling into mini naps for the whole thing haha. I shall have to revist this, I loved his last film though this is obviously very different
Ha Ha! Oh I have had those experiences. This happens to be one where you can miss a section (by nap or other things 😉) and it throw you off completely. It kind of demands your attention. Were you able to see it in the theater?
it didn’t play at cinemas here. Its Australia, and I’m not in a big city, so we get fuck all basically =/
But I watched it at home when I was tired and was probably having mini naps thru out. I gotta watch it again.
BTW, random comment, have you seen Transit? Great flick. Its like Nazi Germany but based in the modern world. Its…. interesting
YES! I reviewed Transit a few weeks ago. HUGE fan of that movie. I’ve seen it twice and felt it was even better the second time.
oh shit I missed your review, I’ll have to read it now. Yes, I am very much looking forward to a second watch
I watched it last night. It’s the kind of story that you keep hoping will go a certain way but frustratingly doesn’t. The director does a great job with putting it together. I didn’t care for the main actress at first, but by the end my heart really went out to her. I don’t understand why she didn’t tell him the truth when he asked if she still cared for him. He was blind.
That’s a really good description of it. As for the actress, she really does win your heart as the story moves forward.
Glad you gave this one a look.