Knife in the Clear Water
Qingshui li de daozi
In this contemplative film about life, death and survival, Ma Zishan, an ageing Hui-Chinese from Ningxia province, is facing a dilemma. His wife, beloved by everyone in the village, has died and tradition demands that a ceremony is held for her forty days later. But Ma Zishan doesn’t know how he can pay for the ceremony. His son encourages him to slaughter their last bull for the guests, but he finds it difficult to say even more farewells.
Knife in the Clear Water shows the uncompromising life of the Hui, Chinese Muslims who live simply off the land. The fact that in his debut Wang Xuebo allowed himself to be inspired by Tarkovski and painters Andrew Wyeth and Jean-François Millet can be seen in the painterly interiors, the 4:3 format and the tranquil, long shots of misty, mountainous northern China.
Film details
- Country of production
- China
- Year
- 2016
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2017
- Length
- 93'
- Medium/Format
- DCP
