Resurrection (狂野时代, 2025) is a dense, sensory-rich film that operates simultaneously as a century-spanning historical odyssey and a profound love letter to the art of cinema itself. To fully appreciate it, you need to approach it not as a conventional narrative, but as a dreamlike, experimental work where history and film form are intertwined.

The Mandarin title 狂野时代 (Kuángyě Shídài) literally translates to "Wild Era" or "Wild Age" — 狂野 means "wild/wilderness" and 时代 means "era/age/times."

Resurrection is the third feature from visionary Chinese director Bi Gan, following Kaili Blues (2015) and Long Day's Journey Into Night (2018). It premiered at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in 2025, where it won the Special Jury Prize. The film stars Jackson Yee (易烊千玺) in a demanding role as five distinct characters, alongside Shu Qi (舒淇).

The plot is framed by a sci-fi conceit: in a future where humanity has sacrificed the ability to dream in exchange for immortality, a lone dreamer (Yee) clings to the fading world of illusions. A rational hunter known as "The Big Other" (Shu Qi) is tasked with entering his dreams to wake him. This narrative is the vessel for a much larger project: a journey through six chapters, each corresponding to a sense (sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch) and consciousness, traversing a century of Chinese history and cinematic styles.

The most crucial context for understanding Resurrection is cinema itself. The film is explicitly a meta-commentary on the history and future of the medium. Each chapter is a stylistic homage. You will see echoes of Georges Méliès's silent fantasy, Fritz Lang's expressionism, 1940s film noir, and even Hong Kong cinema. Bi Gan is deliberately "reincarnating" the visual languages of the 20th century.

Be prepared for a challenging, non-linear experience. The film is deliberately opaque and rewards sensory immersion over logical deduction. Let go of the need to "solve" the plot. Instead, try to experience it as a series of vivid, historical dreams stitched together by a filmmaker who is deeply worried about the future of the art form he loves.

This Film Club is convened by Peter Valerio.

Film

Resurrection​ 狂野时代 (China)

Directed by

Bi Gan​毕赣

Language

Mandarin with English subtitles

Starring

Yi Yangqianxi​ 易烊千玺

Shu Qi​ 舒淇

Please note RAS Film Club no longer accommodates payment at door by Alipay and wechat. All tickets need to be purchased online via the registration link in the event announcement.