Long Day's Journey Into Night

In the opening scene, Luo Hongwu reflects on his haunting memories of a woman who mysteriously vanished after an encounter with a prostitute. The narrative unfolds primarily through a non-linear format, weaving in and out of various scenes that evade straightforward interpretation.

Luo’s roots trace back to Kaili, where he grew up alongside his friend Wildcat. Wildcat intended to sell a batch of apples to the gangster Zuo Hongyuan, but when Luo forgot to assist with the sale, tragedy struck — Wildcat was murdered by Zuo for failing to deliver. It is eventually revealed that the apple transaction served as a cover for smuggling a firearm.

Despite his entanglement with organized crime as a casino manager, Luo is determined to hunt down Zuo with the help of his girlfriend, Wan Qiwen. Wan, a former cat burglar, had once broken into a residence with another woman, but the two were distracted by a green book containing a poetry spell, which allegedly possessed the ability to make the entire house spin. When the homeowners unexpectedly returned, they escaped with the most valuable item they could grab — the only thing Wan took was that peculiar green book. Their intense initial encounter aboard a train ignites a passionate relationship, culminating in a moment where Luo inadvertently acquires the book after Wan leaves it behind.

Encouraged by Wan, Luo plots to assassinate Zuo at a movie theatre, successfully shooting him through the back of his seat before disposing of the body in an abandoned mine. However, after this event, Wan vanishes and is never seen again. Despite retracing her steps, Luo remains unable to locate her.

Years later, he returns to Kaili to attend his father’s funeral. A photo found in the clock that hung in his father’s restaurant bears a disconnected phone number on its reverse side. During his search, he encounters Wan’s former accomplice, currently imprisoned for unrelated crimes. This accomplice recounts the backstory involving the house and tells Luo that having the green book signifies he was special to Wan.

Luo’s journey eventually leads him to a dilapidated town where he spots Wan’s name on a weathered poster adjacent to a strip club. Ignoring a prostitute’s advances, his sole interest lies in determining whether Wan will make an appearance. The sex worker advises him to wait at the movie theatre until the strip club opens. As the film commences, the audience within the movie dons their 3D glasses, signalling the real audience to follow suit.

The film culminates in an uninterrupted 59-minute 3D sequence, leaving viewers questioning whether it depicts reality or fantasy. Luo finds himself on a railway track within the abandoned mine, claiming he arrived there by following the path from the movie theatre. A preteen boy challenges him to a game of ping-pong in exchange for guidance out. Luo easily defeats the boy with a unique spin serve, leading to the boy gifting him his paddle, which he claims has the power to facilitate flight.

The boy takes Luo on a scooter out of the mine and deposits him onto a chairlift descending towards a mountain village. Upon exiting, he finds himself in a pool hall where the red-jacketed proprietress, Kaizhen, bears a striking resemblance to Wan, yet is not her. Together, they spin the paddle, teleporting them to the village square where a traveling karaoke show has recently arrived. There, he encounters Wildcat’s mother, whose hair is dyed a striking red, while she forcefully drags along her unfaithful lover. As Luo and Kaizhen light a sparkler, they set out to locate a previously beautiful home that has now been reduced to ruins. As a poem unfolds, the room begins to spin around them, culminating in a kiss shared amidst the flickering sparkler they left burning.

Last Updated: November 16, 2024 at 18:13