Chang'an
(2024)

Chang’an 🌾 长安三万里

Chang’an is a historical drama based on real-life events, set during the Tang Dynasty’s reign over China, that follows the friendship between acclaimed poet Li Bai and the poet turned military general Gao Shi and how their lives evolved during a period in Chinese history where rebellions and political infighting coincided with the “Golden Age of Poetry.” that they were at the helm of ushering in.

Great movies are able to make you feel like you’ve lived an entire life after watching them; this is one of those movies.

From start to finish, I was fully invested, engaged, and immersed in this historical epic that powerfully conveyed the bond between two men who were trying to reach greatness and the humbling journey they both faced navigating that path, a path they navigated in very different ways.

Li Bai is a free-spirited, go-with-the-flow type who is trying to remove the invisible shackles society has placed on him because he’s the son of a merchant, while the stoic Gao Shi tries his best to follow the righteous path to reclaim the glory of his family's lost legacy.

 
Both face the trials and tribulations that come when boxing oneself into a narrow-minded approach to achieving one's goals rather than adapting to the ever-changing environment they find themselves in.  What helps is having a tangible goal like Gao does in reaching an official position within the government, not something that others decide for you like Li’s unattainable dream of immortality.

Regardless of how far-fetched the dream is or how long they’ve gone without seeing each other, they have a blind faith in each other's dreams that eventually they’ll both find their way, and they’ll be cheering each other on, even from a distance.

That’s the heart of the story: guys being bros, bros being poets, and poets looking to leave behind a lasting legacy and not just be another forgotten name in history.

Those two are the central story at play, but the backdrop is an intensely compelling transition period in Chinese history where a sort of coup d’état is taking place and the remaining factions must pledge allegiance to who they think will be the victor or side with the rightful heir to the throne.

The 3D animation was able to powerfully manoeuvre through those mature themes of war while also masterfully capturing the mystical essence of these philosophical-minded poets. For some, the movie may run long, but I felt the length of the film was necessary to do the story justice, as it provides a unique and worthwhile telling of a moment in Chinese history that endlessly entertains.

Speaking of China, the Chinese Film Pavilion at this year's Annecy International Animation Film Festival is set to highlight the dawn of a new age in Chinese animation, and for good reason. Movies such as Deep Sea, Art College 1994, and Chang’an are prime examples of the diverse storytelling and large-scale animated projects that are currently coming out of China and deserve global praise, but they instead continue to get poorly marketed so that foreign audiences will never know what they missed out on.

This was released in theatres last summer, becoming the third highest grossing animation film of all time in China and the second longest animated film to get a theatrical release, just behind the Japanese anime In This Corner of the World.

In a story where “nothingness will be your teacher and nature will be your friend,” you’ll find plenty of inspirational life lessons along this path to immortality.

Chang’an is a wonderfully crafted, decade-spanning story of friendship that poetically contrasts how the tides of war manifest the most creative minds in a breathtaking must-watch epic. 

Enjoy!

9/10 🍿 🎥

Runtime: 2hrs48mins
Where: 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival

Chang’an Review (2024) The Richmond Reviewer

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