Journey to the West

Journey to the West, directed by Dashan Kong as his debut feature, is a Chinese film that, despite its title, has nothing to do with the classic Monkey King novel; instead it follows an aging UFO enthusiast running a small budget space exploration magazine, who sets out with a group of odd characters across southwest China after watching a mysterious video. The film, executive produced by Frant Gwo (The Wandering Earth), shifts from mockumentary style into dramatic storytelling. It had its world premiere at the Pingyao International Film Festival on October 17, 2021, winning four awards there: the Fei Mu Award for Best Film, the Youth Jury Grand Award, the Cinephilia Critics' Award, and the People's Choice Award. The film opened in China on April 1, 2023, and holds an 8.4 rating on Douban. Who it's for: anyone curious about a Chinese film that, despite its title, has nothing to do with the classic Monkey King story, instead following a UFO enthusiast's journey with an odd group of characters, and which swept four awards at its premiere festival. Who it's not for: viewers looking for an adaptation of the classic novel, since the film only borrows the title for an entirely different story.