Together Apart

Chinese funerals require much preparation a threeday wake and various rituals precede the cremation In the opening shots of this magical realist film the widow returns home drained and starts tidying up the house only to encounter her deceased husband casually sauntering down the stairs She soon readopts a familiar routine dressing him warmly measuring his blood pressure and bickering with him This absurd premise soon develops when visitors from the afterlife are expected and the daughter starts getting involved As she seeks to solve the impossible situation grandson Jiajia seems to be the only one unquestioningly embracing grandads return All shot in long composed takes replete with understated humour and tender reflections on family loneliness memory and the passing of time c IFFR