Beijing’s ancient pagoda, with the full weight of its eight centuries, opposes its immaculate whit to the passing of time. The picture of this unshaded monument punctuates Gu Wentong’s downward spiral, as his friends are surprised by the news of his divorce. An honest man, poet turned gastronomy critic, he visits modest and outdated restaurants with a young photographer colleague. The unveiling of their relationship, deepened as the story unwinds, and the trips between the Chinese capital and the seaside town of Beidaihe form the nuanced, disillusioned stages of an interior wandering. On the path that leads to reconciliation, The Shadowless Tower relates the time that is needed between trauma and reunion, to awaken ones taste buds, learn again the flavours of words like family, love, house. Zhang Lu’s fourteenth feature-film marks his return to the 3 Continents competition, nine years after Gyeongju. AR
French Premiere
