Jia Zhangke

Dapeng’s (大鹏) The Lychees from Chang'an (长安的荔枝) emerges as the summer’s most anticipated cinematic feat, translating Ma Boyong’s (马伯庸) bestselling novella into a visual spectacle. Directed by and starring Dapeng as the low-level Tang Dynasty official Li Shande (李善德), the film chronicles an impossible imperial mission: delivering fresh lychees from Lingnan to Chang’an before spoilage. The film masterfully balances historical authenticity with narrative tension, earning a 7.7 rating – Dapeng’s highest directorial score to date. Its blend of bureaucratic satire, breathtaking landscapes, and emotional depth offers audiences both laughter and poignant reflection on sacrifice and resilience. Visual Poetry on Screen Rejecting sweeping establishing shots, cinematographer employed long lenses to compress space, echoing traditional Chinese painting’s "scattered perspective." Li Shande appears minuscule against Chang’an’s oppressive palace walls, visually amplifying his vulnerability within the imperial machinery. This deliberate framing transforms architecture into a character – cold, imposing, and indifferent to human struggle. Lingnan provides a visceral contrast. Lush lychee orchards burst with saturated greens, while humid air practically shimmers on screen. Indigenous clothing, rugged dwellings, and bustling port scenes immerse viewers in a frontier region defined by cultural exchange and raw natural power. The production meticulously recreated Tang-era trade aesthetics, from Persian-inspired patterns…