NEW YORK ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL, July 12–28, 2024

[Chris Knipp]

CAREFREE DAYS (Liang Ming 2023)

Actor-turned-filmmaker Ming's novel-based sophomore picture about a young woman with life-threatening kidney failure and her journey with two friends is full of troubling realism, chaos, and energy. Perhaps a bit too much, but an exciting new talent whose complex, rich way of filling the screen made made me think of early Jia Zhang-ke.

Carefree Days 逍遥游 (Xiao yao you, "Carefree Journey"), 122 min., debuted Sept. 22, 2023 at San Sebastián. Screened for this review as part of the 2024 NYAFF.

SCHEDULE:
Thursday Jul 18, 3:15pm
Film at Lincoln Center
Sunday Jul 21, 1:00pm
LOOK Cinemas W57