A Long Day's Journey Into Night (2018)

Bi Gan’s mesmeric tale of a man, Luo, who returns to his depressing and downtrodden hometown shortly after the death of his Father, is split into two halves. The films’ title only appears halfway through the tale, adding another layer of confusion to the already hallucinogenic proceedings. Luo’s return to the place he left twenty years ago triggers memories of a distant summer romance after he finds a picture in the back of a clock taken from his Mother’s restaurant. Their relationship is documented in flashback sequences, but the transition between past and present is seamless, and Gan manages to make the film flow consistently, albeit at a snails pace. Those who aren’t fans of slow core style cinema (think the films of Apichatpong Weerasethakul) might struggle to find a foothold here, but for fans of pure cinema Long Day’s Journey Into Night is an exhilarating and absorbing journey. The second half, one single unbroken take (originally in 3D on release) is mesmeric, and appears to be a dream sequence although this is certainly down to interpretation. Gan brings a Lynchian feel to proceedings, reminding me quite strongly of his 2006 piece de resistance Inland Empire. Long Day’s Journey Into Night is nowhere near as confounding as Lynch’s film, but it sucks you into its world, and if it works for you, it won’t let you go until the credits roll. 7.8/10