Ash Is Purest White

Cohen Media Group | Release Date: March 15, 2019

7.2	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Ratings

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GinaKMar 25, 2019

If you don’t like “art house movies” (I mean early Ingmar Bergman films and not low-level porn), stay away from this movie. I rather liked it, as you can see by my numerical rating, but after the first third or so, which is about gangsters,If you don’t like “art house movies” (I mean early Ingmar Bergman films and not low-level porn), stay away from this movie. I rather liked it, as you can see by my numerical rating, but after the first third or so, which is about gangsters, you start on a long train ride through central China where the scenery is colorless and the company is not especially interesting. Someone seems to take a job studying UFOs and there is some successful acupuncture later on (maybe), but that’s about it for excitement. I once sent a cousin of mine to an early Bergman film, and she is still not speaking to me, so be warned.… Expand

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JLuis_001May 29, 2021

Ash is Purest White is one of the best films I've seen this year.
A film that deceives by its apparent simplicity, and yet rewards you for its structural richness.
But the details are appreciated only if you're willing to pay attention. IfAsh is Purest White is one of the best films I've seen this year.
A film that deceives by its apparent simplicity, and yet rewards you for its structural richness.

But the details are appreciated only if you're willing to pay attention.
If your thing is not films that have a slow but captivating pace, stay away.
This is not about finding an answer to the plot but about absorbing it.

The story of Qiao played by a magnificent Zhao Tao is an impressive journey of loyalty, love, change, betrayal and loss, and is given an impressive representation by director Jia Zhangke.

Not to be missed.… Expand

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amheretojudgeOct 2, 2019

You are looking for a reason, a past life, a missing blank and then you realise, "This is a love story".

Ash Is Purest White The writer and director Zhangke Jia is a, if I may, a sadistic person when it comes to portray love in cinema. AndYou are looking for a reason, a past life, a missing blank and then you realise, "This is a love story".

Ash Is Purest White

The writer and director Zhangke Jia is a, if I may, a sadistic person when it comes to portray love in cinema. And there's nothing wrong with that. You can see the result here. It is just, personally I feel sobered up when I start jumping on this train. Now, this is not just any "sober"-ness that he offers us. It is a post hangover, too many cups of coffee, sober. What it sums up too, is an experience. An experience of a lifetime? Sure, why not. For if the writing and direction of the film is pretty standard. What Jia has achieved in this passionate project of his, is something I haven't seen before.

And maybe, I will remember it years later, for its originality. Or just freshness, in my life. Over the two hours in our world, and more than 15 years in the character's world, Jia defines love. Now, there have been so many filmmakers, storytellers, philosophers and whatnots that had tried to conjure the essence of what love is. Where some has been so theoretical and meticulous and a bit math about their love, some has been awfully blunt in their grammar.

And maybe this one comes in later or maybe in both of them. Jia describes it disproportionately. The writers, before him, have gone through enormous lengths to justify it, balance it and share it as much as they could. And even if this one shares its share inadvertently, it is also never called upon. This leaves a hollow space in your head. You are numb for the rest of the day when you get in contact with this. Ash Is Purest White, it concludes, pretty early on, and by the last bell is rung, you'd wish for some, some filter in their voices.… Expand

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DawdlingPoetApr 30, 2022

This is very much a bleak and sometimes quite gritty film. Its got a mostly urban setting and by the end its somewhat introspective. The main protagonist seems quite mysterious, which intrigued me a bit. I felt myself rooting for her atThis is very much a bleak and sometimes quite gritty film. Its got a mostly urban setting and by the end its somewhat introspective. The main protagonist seems quite mysterious, which intrigued me a bit. I felt myself rooting for her at times. I did feel the film seemed a bit directionless at times, plot wise, which didn't help.

As I say, there's a sobering side to what goes on, the principles and morals that are discussed. It's not a film that I found entirely memorable or would want to watch again but its ok. It had a bit of a feel of An Elephant Sitting Still, I thought. I'm not sure what else I could say but I'd only recommend it to people quite familiar with these sorts of films, who are prepared to give it a shot, if you know what I mean.… Expand

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