Still Life was originally published as Sanxia haoren but then subtitled in English. Coalminer Han Sanming comes from Fengyang in Shanxi to the Three Gorges town Fengjie to look for his daughter and ex-wife whom he has not seen for 16 years. Nurse Shen Hong also comes to Fengjie from Taiyuan in Shanxi to look for her husband who has not been home for two years. The old township has been submerged. Life persists in the Three Gorges – what should be taken up is taken up, what should be cast off is cast off.
Still Life scenes are shot in real life speed which can be regarded as slow, but in my opinion should be regarded as real. Real people with real problems face life in a surrealistic setting; the great Chinese works of the Three Gorges. I rate it with a 7.
More information on IMDB.
