Poster of A Land Behind
Last night I went to Suzhou to attend a special screening of A Land Behind, a film directed by Yishu Yang, who held a discussion with the audience afterwards.
The main plot revolves around Mr Tang and his assistant Xiao Yu, who run a struggling organic farm on a sandy island.
As an art-house offering, “A Land Behind” unfolds with contemplative stillness, eschewing manipulative musical cues and commercial conventions, yet maintains its narrative tension throughout the 2-hour 4-minute running time. The uncertain fate of the organic farm haunts the landscape, like a quiet breath suspended, drawing viewers into its delicate, unfolding drama. One colleague who attended the event remarked with surprise that they never felt the urge to check their mobile during the screening.
The film portrays rural life with a slow and quiet rhythm. Within the repetition and hard labour emerges a quiet resilience, revealing the deep and authentic bond between people and the land. It also evokes a sense of nature’s healing power and a longing for a simpler way of living.
My sole reservation with the film is its insufficient exploration of what drives Mr Tang and Xiao Yu to persist in building a successful organic farm against overwhelming odds. In the film, Mr Tang states that he wants “Everyone to be able to eat organic food.” However, why is eating organic food so important? It appears reduced to philosophical ideology favouring a way of food production which is more harmonic with the universe. In reality, there are compelling sustainability arguments for organic farming, and sustainability isn’t merely ideology but necessity for the continuation of our global civilization. Without it, we might soon find ourselves growing potatoes in our gardens instead of creating and experiencing art house cinema.