Mountains May Depart

Mountains May Depart (2015) covers twenty six years of Chinese life in three chapters set in 1999, 2014 and 2025. Tao is at the centre. In the first chapter she chooses between two men: one has bought a coal mine, the other works in it. That decision shapes not only her life but the life of a son who has not been born yet. The detail most people notice afterwards is the aspect ratio. The 1999 section is nearly square, 2014 is wider, 2025 is full scope. The screen keeps opening up while the distance between the characters grows. It is not a flourish. It is the argument of the film. The final chapter takes place in Australia and is largely in English, with a son who has lost his mother's language. This is where opinion splits hardest. Some find it strained, others consider it the whole point. Good for: viewers who like slow family drama, contemporary Chinese cinema and stories about migration and time. Less good for: 127 minutes with very little plot. Do not start it tired. Note that the Turkish synopsis on most databases is still untranslated English.