In a rapidly changing world, a woman must decide her future and that of her child. TAO grows up in the Chinese city of Fenyang in the 1990s. She finds herself torn between two suitors: the wealthy, ambitious businessman JINSHENG and the down-to-earth coal miner LIANGZHI. Her choice will determine not only her own life but also that of her son DOLLAR. The film follows the characters over three decades – from China to Australia and into an uncertain future. MOUNTAINS MAY DEPART premiered in the 2015 Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or competition. It was also screened in the “Special Presentations” section at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. Director Jia Zhangke, known for his insightful portraits of modern China, presents an epic drama that highlights the profound social and emotional changes that have taken place over several decades. Zhao Tao, known for her collaborations with Jia Zhangke, plays the lead role of Shen Tao. The film has been praised for its profound storytelling and portrayal of China's rapid social changes. MOUNTAINS MAY DEPART is a moving work that addresses the fragility of human relationships and the search for identity in a constantly changing world.
The life of Tao, and those close to her, is explored in three different time periods: 1999, 2014, and 2025.
In a rapidly changing world, a woman must decide her future and that of her child. TAO grows up in the Chinese city of Fenyang in the 1990s. She finds herself torn between two suitors: the wealthy, ambitious businessman JINSHENG and the down-to-earth coal miner LIANGZHI. Her choice will determine not only her own life but also that of her son DOLLAR. The film follows the characters over three decades – from China to Australia and into an uncertain future.
MOUNTAINS MAY DEPART premiered in the 2015 Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or competition. It was also screened in the “Special Presentations” section at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.
Director Jia Zhangke, known for his insightful portraits of modern China, presents an epic drama that highlights the profound social and emotional changes that have taken place over several decades.
Zhao Tao, known for her collaborations with Jia Zhangke, plays the lead role of Shen Tao. The film has been praised for its profound storytelling and portrayal of China's rapid social changes.
MOUNTAINS MAY DEPART is a moving work that addresses the fragility of human relationships and the search for identity in a constantly changing world.