Not long ago, I rewatched A Touch of Sin (2013) at the Ghent Film Festival – not my favorite film by Jia Zhangke, but essentially an excellent observation of the absurdities and the moral and physical violence brought about by the new socio-economic changes triggered by China opening its market to capitalism. Greed, exploitation, and a fair dose of the ridiculousness of the world we live in, lit up by kitschy colored LEDs and perfumed with the scent of plastic flowers. Right before the screening, they ran a trailer for Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World (2023) – another road movie, so to speak – and since then, I’ve been haunted by a sense of similarity between Radu Jude and Jia Zhangke.

Dora Leu

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Graduated with a BA in film directing and a MA in film studies from UNATC; she's also studied history of art. Also collaborates with the Acoperisul de Sticla film magazine and is a former coordinator of FILM MENU. She's dedicated herself to '60-'70s Japanese cinema and Irish post-punk music bands. Still keeps a picture of Leslie Cheung in her wallet.

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