The 14th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) is counting down—with just 10 days to go. Brace yourself for an abundance of outstanding films that are about to hit the screen.

Coinciding with this moment, the thematic short film As Spring Comes Along, directed by Gu Xiaogang and starring Chen Kun, Bai Baihe, Li Gengxi, and Huang Minghao, has been made available to the public.

The film tells the story of a pair of former lovers who revisit an old haunt, witnessing the past in the present and the present in the past.

　　A still of As Spring Comes Along

As Spring Comes Along, part of director Gu Xiaogang’s visual aesthetic endeavor on landscape cinema, is an exquisite testament to his mastery in shot composition. The thematic short film only, with a runtime of around 9 minutes, consists of two shots: a well-paced long shot that culminates in an upward perspective, offering an aerial view of the verdant scenery and new life within the Summer Palace. Gu’s long shot is not a static gaze upon fixed scenes, but rather a flowing scroll, embodying the adage of ancient times that it is “walkable, viewable, inhabitable, and tourable”. Within his visual wanderings, time and emotions interweave and shift, in a continuous flux—sometimes evoking the past, sometimes capturing the present; sometimes exuberant, sometimes tinged with longing. Beijing and cinema are the crucial keywords that bind together the intricate fabric of ever-shifting mosaic.

When viewing on a mobile phone, some mysteries in this image scroll painting may be challenging to capture fully. It is recommended to choose a larger screen device for a panoramic experience of Eastern aesthetics.

　　Director Gu Xiaogang at filming site

A discernible trait can be observed across Gu Xiaogang's oeuvre: the settings in which his characters reside mirror their social status. The environment is not merely a backdrop or a decorative element, but an independent existence imbued with a spirit of its own, which often shows up and whispers in movies. The same holds true for As Spring Comes Along. At the beginning, the Kunming Lake, a repository of historical raindrops, rests tranquil and smiling amidst the mist, and listening to the playful banter of old friends playing on the elevated platform silently. Then, a couple of former lovers meander and reminisce in the scattered ancient buildings. The Tower of Buddhist Incense, perched high with its projecting eaves, stands as their shelter, accommodating their shared melancholy. Xiaochun, who was very lively and vigorous in his youth, undergoes a dynamic character development that shapes the trajectory of his life. We can tell from their conversations that Beijing has already become a yardstick for the characters to measure the scale of their own lives: The Echo Wall at the Temple of Heaven is a metaphor for youthful love and longing; the presence at Jiangzhaikou captures the fleeting moments of longing and separation; the new residence in Liuyin Park symbolizes the ever-changing nature of life and its impermanence... Beijing assumes an absolute presence in this film. With its beauty and profound legacy, it bears witness to the ebb and flow of life’s journey within the depths of every individual.

　　A still of As Spring Comes Along

Cinema is another keyword worth mentioning in terms of As Spring Comes Along. Cinema is a way to meet and a chance of reunion－even with long-lost friends, a shared film can evoke a heartfelt connection and inspire a shared moment of laughter. However, when the man and the woman recall the movie they shared years before, there is a paradoxical narrative reminiscent of “Rashomon effect”. Are they both wrong? Perhaps, that is not the case. With such a difference in viewing experience, director Gu delicately unveils a major trait of cinema: It is like a brilliantly cut crystal with countless facets, and each audience can perceive its unique and exclusive light refracted by it. Swathed in the luminance of the silver screen, personal memories are thus begotten. Therefore, cinema becomes another gauge of the life beyond urban space.

In the short film As Spring Comes Along, there is an endearing prop, a paper windmill twirling in the wind, artfully serving as a representation of the BJIFF, just as director Gu intended (coincidentally, the festival's official logo also features a windmill). As the gentle breeze wafts through the Summer Palace, the BJIFF is set to arrive as scheduled after ten days.

　　Work photo of As Spring Comes Along

On April 18 in spring, the awaited cinematic feast is about to open. For the characters in the film, cinema is a way to meet; for the BJIFF, cinema serves as invitation letters, reaching out to audiences across the global...

We cordially invite your presence, urging you to traverse the realms of cinema. Alternatively, we invite you to go on a cinematic spree, creating fresh memories with someone special. Come and be a part of it all－amidst the spring breeze, in this ancient city, and inside our eternal cinema.