Swimming Out Till the Sea Turns Blue

Released May 28, 2021

1h 52m

Documentary

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73%

Tomatometer

30 Reviews

From master director Jia Zhang-Ke (Ash Is Purest White, A Touch of Sin) comes a vital document of Chinese society since 1949. Jia interviews three prominent authors--Jia Pingwa, Yu Hua, and Liang Hong--born in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, respectively. In their stories, we hear of the dire circumstances they faced in their rural villages and small towns, and the substantial political effort undertaken to address it, from the social revolution of the 1950s through the unrest of the late 1980s. In their faces, we see full volumes left unsaid. Jia weaves it all together with his usual brilliance. SWIMMING OUT TILL THE SEA TURNS BLUE is an indispensable account of a changing China from one of the country's foremost cinematic storytellers.

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Critics Consensus

Appropriate given its title, Swimming Out Till the Sea Turns Blue indulges in a certain amount of drift -- but patient viewers may savor its contemplative undertow.

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Adam Nayman

The Ringer

For those on the director's wavelength, however, the film offers a treasure trove of images and prose that are carefully shaped and off-the-cuff reminiscences describing a nation's ceaseless, quietly seismic patterns of change...

Jul 19, 2021

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Glenn Kenny

RogerEbert.com

The portraits here ... are sensitive and intriguing.

Rated: 3/4

May 28, 2021

Full Review

Justin Chang

Los Angeles Times

"Swimming Out Till the Sea Turns Blue" resists the obvious, even when it finally reveals the meaning behind its poetic title.

May 28, 2021

Full Review

Carson Timar

Clapper

There is a focused and incredibly powerful 80-minute feature buried within the film, but as it stands, the film holds more potential than it does results.

Feb 22, 2022

Full Review

Sabina Dana Plasse

Film Threat

Although it is a bit lengthy, Swimming Out Till the Sea Turns Blue is a well-done and beautifully expressed film for understanding a people and their history.

Rated: 9/10

Oct 4, 2021

Full Review

Witney Seibold

Critically Acclaimed Podcast

Gentle and heartfelt, but don't enter this doc without familiarity with its subjects. You may feel adrift otherwise.

Sep 17, 2021

Full Review

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Zhang-Ke Jia

Director

Zhang-Ke Jia

Writer

Tao Zhao

Producer

Nelson Lik-wai Yu

Cinematographer

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Synopsis

From master director Jia Zhang-Ke (Ash Is Purest White, A Touch of Sin) comes a vital document of Chinese society since 1949. Jia interviews three prominent authors--Jia Pingwa, Yu Hua, and Liang Hong--born in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, respectively. In their stories, we hear of the dire circumstances they faced in their rural villages and small towns, and the substantial political effort undertaken to address it, from the social revolution of the 1950s through the unrest of the late 1980s. In their faces, we see full volumes left unsaid. Jia weaves it all together with his usual brilliance. SWIMMING OUT TILL THE SEA TURNS BLUE is an indispensable account of a changing China from one of the country's foremost cinematic storytellers.

Director: Zhang-Ke Jia
Screenwriter: Zhang-Ke Jia
Distributor: The Cinema Guild
Production Co: Shanghai Film Studio, Alibaba Pictures Group, Shanxi Film & Television Group, iQIYI Pictures, Huaxia Film Distribution Company, Wishart Media , Xstream Pictures, Huayi Brothers Pictures, Kylin Network Movie & Culture Media
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Theaters): May 28, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 30, 2021
Runtime: 1h 52m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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