Lao Ma

Opening with a funeral, Lao Ma, directed by LIN Kangjing, unfolds a quietly moving portrait of the brief time shared between a city boy and his grandfather who remains in their rural hometown. The director plays the grandson and many of the family members appear as themselves, adding authenticity to his deeply personal work.

Shot with still frames on familiar land, and told through nostalgic, affectionate conversations, the film resists showcasing scenes to fulfill people’s craving for the extraordinary. Instead, it reveals a rich emotional texture that can be only shaped by memory and time. 

The grandfather, once vigorous, now stumbles to grow soybeans in the land. Lin deepens this tribute with a delicate use of traditional Chinese opera, culminating in his own rendition of Shou Jiang Wei, which gives the film its emotional crescendo.This year, we received many films centered around funerals and rural life, with its heartfelt sincerity and confident cinematic language, Lao Ma stands out as a quiet powerful presence in the Fountainhead selection.

– LIU Yuetong