Exploration of Dreams and Cinema in 'Resurrection'
This year, the Cannes Film Festival showcased Bi Gan’s latest feature, Resurrection, a film rich in visual storytelling and philosophical inquiry. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, the narrative follows a woman who, after undergoing brain surgery, finds herself in a semi-conscious state amid a desolate world. In her solitude, she discovers a motionless android and decides to share with it the history of China. As she recounts her stories night after night, the android gradually regains its senses, leading to a profound dilemma: should she return to the real world or remain with this machine?
Bi Gan, an acclaimed voice in Chinese arthouse cinema, continues to push the boundaries of narrative structure and visual aesthetics in his third feature film. Since his acclaimed debut Kaili Blues in 2015 and the mesmerizingly complex Long Day's Journey Into Night in 2018, Gan has established a signature style characterized by long takes, dreamlike sequences, and deep explorations of time and memory.
Redefining Structure and Narrative
Resurrection embraces an innovative format, splitting the film into multiple segments that traverse various timelines and styles, reflecting the evolution of cinema itself and focusing on the concept of "fantasmers"—individuals capable of dreaming in a world that has lost this ability. The film opens with a silent cinema-inspired segment featuring dialogue-free storytelling and an emphasis on visual imagery that draws the audience into its dreamlike quality.
The narrative features four distinct dreams wherein the protagonist experiences life through different characters in varied settings, from a war-torn past to a neon-lit future. Despite the disjointed storytelling, each dream resonates with an emotional undercurrent, allowing the character to confront their past, right wrongs, and ultimately explore the complexities of human experience.
A Dense and Poetic Cinematic Experience
Given its ambitious structure, Resurrection challenges viewers with its narrative tangents and experimental style. Critics have noted the difficulty in unpacking the film's intentions or thematic connections. This ambiguity has been both a point of critique and praise, prompting discussions about the nature of narratives in modern cinema.
The cinematography, led by Jingsong Dong, enhances the film’s visual poetry, showcasing a vibrant use of colors and reflective imagery that engages the viewer on both a surface and deeper level. One standout scene is a 30-minute unbroken take during a New Year's Eve celebration, highlighting Bi Gan’s technical prowess and confidence behind the camera.
Conclusion
Ultimately, Resurrection emerges as a profound meditation on dreams, identity, and the role of cinema in our understanding of reality. The film's exploration of memory and technology, combined with Bi Gan’s evolving visual language, positions it as a significant entry in the landscape of contemporary film, inviting audiences to reflect on what it truly means to dream.
The film premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and is currently seeking U.S. distribution, having already generated buzz for its inventive storytelling and audacious artistic choices.
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