Long Day's Journey Into Night

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Ben P ‘When people were sad, they would eat an apple, the whole thing, core and all,’ says Luo Hongwu (Huang Jue), the protagonist in Bi Gan’s hypnotic film-noir ‘Long Day’s Journey into the Night’. What follows is a two-minute scene in which we stare into the eyes of a boy, depressed and crying, as he takes an apple from his mother, resting on his shoulder, and eats it, core and all. It’s a sort of microcosm for the entire movie, really: beautifully melancholic, slow, but so opaque in its meaning to the overall narrative that it’s almost necessary to take each scene as its own. In fact, before the title card plays (which comes a staggering 70 minutes in), you wouldn’t blame a viewer, so lost under the gorgeous neon lights and pitter-patter of raindrops, the sporadic violence and poetic monologues, for having next to no idea what’s going on. And as you watch this boy eat the apple, core and all, it becomes easy to wonder where exactly the core to this movie is, or whether it too has been swallowed. Full Review on my Substack: https://benpatten.substack.com/ Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/11/25 Full Review S R I saw it since it was on the NYT 1000 movies list. This one seemed to be included for its originality, but it was a confusing slog with a bizarre hour long shot that didn't make it any better. I did appreciate the cinematography, but other than that I don't need to see it again. SLC DVD. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/22/25 Full Review Steve C So mysterious, I still don't know what's it about... Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/29/24 Full Review an I loved this movie so much, watched 2-3; times and was not enough. The first time I didn't understand the plot 100%, but the cinematography was amazing, the second time everything became clear and loved it. I liked the flashbacks/memories, the long shots along with dark colours, and in the second part the one-shot scene. In the end it's all about love, you might look for an old love and not find it, so you choose the one that comes first. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Yuvraj C Once in a Lifetime kind of experience if you had watched it in a theater. One of the rare movies which was must watch in theaters. Film was partially 3D. First Half of the film is 2D sets up story where our protagonist searching someone reaches to a village where there's a singing competition and person he is looking for is going to participate in that competition. Lady tells him that competition is in the evening there's lots of time for that meanwhile he can go and watch a film. He goes to the theater and start watching film wearing 3D glasses which is cue for audience that next half is 3D and they should wear their 3D glasses and then follows uncut single shot breathtaking dreamlike sequence which hypnotize you. This was one of the most unique film I ever saw. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/12/22 Full Review Audience Member Bi Gan's mesmeric tale of a man, Luo, who returns to his depressing and downtrodden hometown shortly after the death of his Father, is split into two halves. The films' title only appears halfway through the tale, adding another layer of confusion to the already hallucinogenic proceedings. Luo's return to the place he left twenty years ago triggers memories of a distant summer romance after he finds a picture in the back of a clock taken from his Mother's restaurant. Their relationship is documented in flashback sequences, but the transition between past and present is seamless, and Gan manages to make the film flow consistently, albeit at a snails pace. Those who aren't fans of slow core style cinema (think the films of Apichatpong Weerasethakul) might struggle to find a foothold here, but for fans of pure cinema Long Day's Journey Into Night is an exhilarating and absorbing journey. The second half, one single unbroken take (originally in 3D on release) is mesmeric, and appears to be a dream sequence although this is certainly down to interpretation. Gan brings a Lynchian feel to proceedings, reminding me quite strongly of his 2006 piece de resistance Inland Empire. Long Day's Journey Into Night is nowhere near as confounding as Lynch's film, but it sucks you into its world, and if it works for you, it won't let you go until the credits roll. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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