Bi Gan's Resurrection

Bi Gan’s RESURRECTION ☁️ (2025)

Some films don’t hand over their meaning, they invite you to chase it—that’s Bi Gan’s RESURRECTION.

Awarded the Prix Spécial at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, RESURRECTION takes audiences on a hypnotic visual odyssey, drawing viewers into a dreamlike state that drifts away from reality rather than anchoring you to it.

This China-France co-production unveils a brutal, feverish era, where humans have discovered that the secret to eternal life is to no longer dream. People not dreaming are like candles that do not burn; they can exist forever. Those who dare to dream are known as deliriants—they bring pain to reality, chaos to history, and time into spasms.

I’ll be completely honest, I have no idea what the true meaning of this film was meant to be, and maybe that’s the point. There’s a certain freedom in surrendering to its enigmatic flow. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t try to understand it on a deeper level.

The earlier parts of the film introduced a character who seems oddly drawn to poppies. Given the characters gaunt, hollowed-out appearance and the historical significance of poppies in China, I couldn’t help but think this was a story about addiction and an eventual overdose. That overdose triggers the dream state we experience that I felt might’ve been a way for the character to find peace through the memories of his past, but all he’s reminded of is how mundane and exhausting everything was, which may be what brought him into addiction in the first place. A life devoid of meaning.

Then I thought maybe it’s as simple as a man down on his luck, mentally pleading for a return to the peace of his past, just to realize a lot of the issues he had were a matter of perspective and not circumstance. Or it’s understanding that things (good and bad) will keep happening, tomorrow will come, and even if life begins to feel hollow, instinctively our souls want to survive and live to see another day. And there’s also the whole eternal life aspect of non-dreamers living forever because it can feel like death to dream and aspire for something beyond one’s own control, which is like a waking death…?

Again, this is all guesswork on my part. The fact I’m even willing to dig deeper than surface level on this film is a testament to the artistry and vision of director Bi Gan.

RESURRECTION exists somewhere between reality and a dream state, as if you were floating through time, and I loved how the framework of Bi Gan’s cinematography captured that feeling. If you’re an appreciator of fine-tuned, perfectly constructed cinematography, then this film is a must. In the striking way Avatar films immerse audiences into larger-than-life worlds like Pandora, RESURRECTION is equal parts as impressive as it makes you feel as if you’re floating through distinct periods in Chinese history.

The best way I can describe this movie is like walking into an art gallery, standing before a mesmerizing piece, and knowing you’re struck by something profound, but still unsure of what the artist is trying to convey. This felt lab made for true art house lovers and film buffs. 

RESURRECTION is an artistic endeavor of creative expression that engages the subconscious mind in a journey of self-discovery through a dreamscape rooted in Chinese history.

Enjoy!

6.95/10 🍿 🎥

Runtime: 2hrs39mins

Where:  Now Playing In Select Theatres.

Bi Gan's Resurrection Review (2025) The Richmond Reviewer - December 13th, 2025.

#Resurrection #Cinema #Movie #MovieReview #China #France  #ChineseCinema #BiGan #JacksonYee #ShuQi #FilmsWeLike