A poetic romance that transcends time, Ash is Purest White tells a love story that doesn’t play by the rules. Written and directed by Jia Zhang-Ke, the film is a tribute to the lengths one will go in order to reclaim a past relationship, despite the intangible longing of a love that’s been lost. Ash is Purest White, which at the time of writing this review, currently holds a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, shows that even though the truth may hurt, it is an absolute necessity in order to move on.

Sacrificing yourself for another

Qiao (Tao Zhao) is in love with the local “jianghu” (mafia) boss Bin (Fan Liao), and even though he is hesitant to put a label on their relationship, everyone who knows the couple knows they are together. One night, a mysterious murder in the group’s inner circle puts everyone on edge, as town’s rival gang appears to be sending threats. That threat becomes personal when a group of boys catch Bin off-guard and begin beating him in the middle of a busy street. Qiao, whose initial reaction of shock quickly turns into controlled rage, pulls out a gun- the gun that Bin gave her days prior- and shoots it up into the air as a warning. The rival group scatters, but unfortunately for our heroine, Qiao, she gets arrested for owning and discharging an illegal firearm.

Love lost

Fast forward five years, Qiao is finally released from prison and begins her search for Bin in the hopes to pick things up where they left off. The fact that Bin never came to visit her in prison and now is not answering his phone, makes her nervous. When Qiao finally tracks Bin down, his selfishness dumbfounds her. Not only does he have a new girlfriend, despite Qiao’s sacrifice to save his life, but his feelings for her have also clearly changed. He doesn’t love her anymore, and for Qiao, that reality is the equivalent of a slap in the face. She now realizes that her whole adult life, she had been a prisoner in both the literal sense and also figuratively as a pawn, in a non-committed relationship that had no future.

Lynchian moments make this a true art film

Almost Lynchian at times, Ash is Purest White incorporates surrealist moments that serve to shake up the film’s otherwise natural sensibilities. The dance club scene early on, in which Qiao and Bin dance with a group of strangers to the Village People’s YMCA, gives off strong Pulp Fiction vibes. Ballroom dancers at a funeral and a UFO sighting are other nuanced touches that director Zhang-Ke also incorporates. Visually, Ash is Purest White is drenched in the naturalistic beauty of the northwestern Chinese region where it looks as if every frame is a painting. The greenery of the hills juxtaposed with the neon vibrancy of city aesthetic breathes life into the tepid relationship we see on screen. The film also does a wonderful job of indicating that time is passing without relying on title cards or other obvious methods. We see our characters age through their wardrobe, hairstyles, and the continuous upgrades in the technology of the times.

Facing the truth is not easy, but necessary

Ash is Purest White is a film about life, love, and freedom where coming into one’s own can be an ambiguous and anxiety-ridden journey. Qiao learns this the long and hard way as she discovers that she must live her life for no one other than herself. It’s a lesson about self-discovery that’s not only important but clearly timeless.

Ash is Purest White is not rated. 136 minutes. Opening this Friday at ArcLight Hollywood and Laemmle Monica Film Center.