Cities of Last Things (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film takes place in a near-future urban setting, primarily across various locations within a single city including an apartment where a tragic event occurs, a dance hall that represents themes of infidelity and despair, and a heavily guarded hospital that serves as the intersection of past relationships and dark actions.

• setting
• urban
• city
• locations
• apartment
• dance hall
• hospital

The movie is set in 2056, a near-future world characterized by technological innovations like 'rejuvenation fluid' that raise questions about morality and the human condition. This period is marked by societal desperation and the consequences of dishonorable actions.

• time period
• 2056
• near-future
• era
• sci-fi setting

The film explores three central themes: Betrayal, as Zhang Dong Ling faces infidelity and treachery from those he trusted; Despair, showing the dire consequences of his actions and emotional turmoil through violence and regret; and Cycles, demonstrating how his past continually influences his present in a repetitive pattern of violence, loss, and emotional trauma.

• themes
• betrayal
• despair
• cycles
• meaning
• message

Zhang Dong Ling is the film's protagonist, a mature man portrayed by Jack Kao, who is consumed by sorrow and rage. His journey involves navigating betrayal and loss, which leads him to make fateful decisions that pull him deeper into despair, embodying the tragic consequences of unresolved emotional conflicts.

• zhang dong ling
• protagonist
• main character
• character

Ara, played by Louise Grinberg, serves as both a symbol of temptation and a reflection of Zhang's lost love. Her character adds depth by representing the complexities of human connections and the impact of choices made in dire circumstances, showcasing the duality of compassion and despair.

• ara
• character
• temptation
• love
• lost love

Shi Zhi-Wen, portrayed by Chin-Hang Shih, acts as a powerful antagonist in Zhang's life. His betrayal and manipulation drive Zhang toward a path of destruction, embodying the ruthlessness of ambition and demonstrating how personal conflicts can spiral into tragic outcomes.

• shi zhi-wen
• antagonist
• villain
• betrayal
• manipulation

Big Sister Wang, played by Ning Ding, is a strong-willed character who represents defiance against authority and the pursuit of freedom. She shares traumatic experiences with Zhang, highlighting their mutual struggles within their respective worlds before her tragic end underscores the film's themes of loss and longing for escape.

• big sister wang
• character
• defiance
• freedom
• resistance

Rejuvenation fluid is a futuristic innovation mentioned in the film that symbolizes the era's desperation for youth and raises ethical questions about morality and the human condition. It reflects the societal issues prevalent in this near-future world.

• rejuvenation fluid
• technology
• future
• innovation
• sci-fi element

The movie uses a reverse-chronological structure, presenting the story in reverse order from the protagonist's suicide back to his youth. This non-linear timeline requires viewers to piece together cause-and-effect relationships, revealing how past decisions create the cycle of suffering that defines Zhang's tragic fate.

• narrative structure
• reverse order
• non-linear
• storytelling
• timeline

The film maintains a consistently dark and bleak tone with high intensity, depicting a relentless downward spiral involving murder, suicide, and betrayal. There is no redemption offered, and the emotional weight deals with profound loss, vengeance, and a life defined by trauma, concluding with an image of lost innocence.

• tone
• emotion
• bleak
• dark
• atmosphere
• mood