Source: Original Li Liuyang Dreamer 
022-09-03 18:34 Published in Anhui
"I will die repeatedly to confirm the infinity of life."
Editor's note: I first learned about the movie " Into the Dust " when it was released in my circle of friends. Many people say that this is the best Chinese-language movie in 2022, but I found that this movie was not released in my city. So I thought of a way. I launched an event to watch "Into the Dust" on "Elephant Screening", but I didn't have many connections in this city. After various forwardings, I asked relatives and friends, and finally Still not enough people. I had no choice but to watch this movie on Youku. After watching this movie, I felt a very subtle shock in my heart. This is simply the light of Chinese movie ! This is a movie with very little movement, no intense scenes, no complicated plot, but like the water you drink every day, it can be dull or turbulent, with endless meaning. It has a strong poetic quality. It not only tells the story of life, but also contains the director’s own philosophical thoughts on life, the state of people in nature and the destiny of mankind. It is profound, plain and Otherworldly. Out of love for this movie, I went to Nanjing to film the director himself. He is thin in stature, has firm eyes, is simple and honest, elegant and knowledgeable, and loves to laugh. I hope he can go on firmly and achieve his ideals. During the interview, I did not adopt the traditional method of asking and answering questions. Instead, I chose to talk casually, taking photos and chatting at the same time. During the chat, I learned a little bit about the person's behavior. (Li Liuyang)
1.
Li Ruijun was born in Gaotai, Gansu in 1983. Graduated from the Management Cadre Academy of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television in 2003. There are film works such as " Old Donkey Head ", "Tell Them, I went on a white crane", " Home is in a place with lush water and grass ", " Passing by the Future ", etc. His latest work "Into the Dust" is directed by Wu Renlin, Starring Hai Qing, the film was shortlisted for the Berlin Film Festival's main competition and was released in China on July 8, 2022, arousing heated discussions online.
This film tells the story of a rural couple's difficult but heartwarming life journey in the northwest countryside. Continuing the profound humanistic care of director Li Ruijun, starting from the emotional life of the hero and heroine, and using the real rural status quo as the background, it starts a new trend of regaining the interest of the land. The film has a unique perspective and rich details. In its comprehensive depiction of rural life in northwest China, the film calls for the solid and determined power from the people at the bottom.
2.
Ramblings about
Li Liuyang: " If you use a plant to describe your hometown, what would you think of? "
Li Ruijun: " Malan flower is the Malan flower that Guiying takes in "Into the Dust" "
Li Liuyang: "You have. Haven't you looked carefully at your eyes? Like."
Li Ruijun: "Like a fish? "
Li Liuyang: "Well, it also looks like a torn hole in the skin. "
Li Ruijun: "Haha.. ..The universe is like a plastic bag, and the sun is a torn hole."
Li Liuyang: "I watched your movie, and I thought of Cypress . Do you know Cypress? "
Li Ruijun: "Of course I know! In our place, the highest respect for a person is to make him a cypress coffin after he dies. "
Li Liuyang: " Do you usually like small animals? ”
Li Ruijun: ” I like it. When I was a child, there were two dogs and a cat at home. I would play with them after school. ”
I thought about it for a while and seemed to have gone off topic. I asked again
Li Liuyang: “Whose movie do you like? "
Li Ruijun: " Abbas , Ozu Yasujiro , Tarkovsky ...."
Li Liuyang: "Will you think about the fate of the characters in your movie?" Just like your Northwest and Gansu, the fate of people on this vast land? "
Li Ruijun: " Everyone has more than 30,000 days, right? We just borrowed a skin to travel in this world for more than 30,000 days, but some people may not survive more than 30,000 days. Everything is subject to endless changes, and there is no absolute existence, especially these lives. One day we will all leave this world.
It took us one second or ten seconds to be born, but the sad thing is that it takes us a lifetime to die. There are many uncertain things in this world, but the only thing that is certain is that we will leave this world.
However, this death is not absolute. For example, if you are cremated and sprinkled on a piece of land, it may decompose into other energy and nourish the surrounding weeds or trees. The gene has been recombined again. It may have changed into another form, a skin. It may have become a tree. The tree was gnawed by the cow and became part of the cow. As for the cow, it is possible that the feces returned to the land and became part of the crops. If the crops were eaten by another person, they might become part of another person's genes. So there is no absolute death, no absolute sadness and joy in the strict sense. ”
Li Liuyang: “The characters in your movies are like dust, floating and falling. What do you think of the relationship between humans and nature? "
Li Ruijun: " Nature relies on people, and people cannot exist without nature. Nature does not need the existence of humans, but humans need the existence of nature, just like the donkey in the movie "Into the Dust". The donkey never needs the existence of humans, but humans need its existence.
When a life is born, it is nourished by everything in nature and the land. The land is a purer existence than human nature. It accepts everything without distinction. It will not treat you differently based on your appearance, position, or ability. The land is a broad and clean existence, and has been selflessly giving to any animal or plant. All things in nature are children of the land, and humans are also one of the children of the land. If mountains are the backbone and bones of the land, the metal we extract is the marrow in its bones. If we talk about oil, it is the blood of the earth. We used the blood and marrow of the earth to create the car and drive it to run on this land. So no matter what, everything humans have actually comes from nature."
Li Liuyang: " To be honest, I only started to pay attention to your work after "Into the Dust". The day before I decided to interview you, I read your movie "Home in the Place with Rich Water and Grass" online. "Tell them I went on a white crane." I'm interested in the focus on Western life, the intersection of man and nature, that's present in your films. I found that in the above-mentioned films, a lonely, mature man who is about to get old often appears. The old man is always somewhat related to death. What matches and balances him is a young boy who has just grown up, is determined, brave, innocent and curious. . Is there any connection between the two? "
Li Ruijun: "It is based on reality and thinking. These are the two most important ends of life. We cannot remember how we were born, nor can we see what will happen to us after we die. So it has a philosophical meaning. And in the real world, the middle group of people is missing, and young people have gone out to work. Children seem to be the future, and the elderly represent past history and experience. But the old man left, taking life experience with him. ”
Li Liuyang: “In the movie “Cinema Paradiso”, the male protagonist lost his first love, and he felt that there was a gap in his life. He had to keep trying to fill this gap, and later became a great director. Do you think it's your destiny to make movies? Are you trying to fill a gap in your life? Or do you think it is indispensable? "
Li Ruijun: "Images exist beyond language. I am interested in people and things in this world, and images are a means and tool that I like very much to think, observe, and express the world. I like to think in the way of images. Because it can express many things, and I can communicate spiritually with many people through my works without having to meet in person. Cinema exists across languages and races.
However, I don’t think that making movies is destined. People’s interests and hobbies may change over time, just like people’s faces. As you grow older, your understanding of life and movies will change at different stages. The cognition is different, and different methods may be used. You can also use scripts, novels, and music. "
0
Li Liuyang: "Then what kind of movies will you make in the future? "
Li Ruijun: "Thinking about life, love, faith, the past and future of mankind, and the land of the northwest. "
When this photo was taken
1
Li Liuyang: "Can you stand on the table? "
Li Ruijun: " is OK. "
Li Liuyang: " I feel that this angle is very suitable for you, because you are a person who grows rice in a house made of reinforced concrete. "
12
Li Liuyang: "I am full of fantasy about life because I am a Pisces. "
Li Ruijun: "I am also a Pisces. What day do you have? "
Li Liuyang: " March 19th, maybe 20th? Can't remember clearly. "
Li Ruijun: "I am March 16th. "
3
Li Liuyang: "Our interview is about to end, I hope we can meet again next time! "
Li Ruijun: "I'll see you again. I won't die right away. "
4
Li Liuyang: "You'd better wish me to get rich. When I get rich, I will invest in your movie. "
Li Ruijun: "Okay, I wish you get rich. When you get rich, you may forget about this.""
Li Liuyang: "No, don't worry. I'm not that kind of person. ”
Photography｜Li Liuyang
—— End ——
Li Liuyang
