Overnight to Distant Cities

IN LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT, AN EMOtionally wayward man searches for his former lover across southwest China. With only memories to guide him, his waking life soon opens upon a 3-D dream world. Director Bi Gan spoke about the film in anticipation of its April 12 release.

Could you tell us about your connection to your hometown of Kaili?

This is, is very much about the gloomy days of Kaili, whereas is about the darkness of Kaili. It’s in the southwest of China, where you have a lot of minorities, including the Miao people. I integrated the music and harmony of the Miao minority as a way to summon their spirits as the film progressed. Kaili is a small town, what we call a fourth- or fifth-tier city. But we also have the development of the high-speed train and a similar integration of rural and urban areas as all over China.