Things I wasn't expecting to have so many feelings about: a film about the lives of Tang dynasty poets. Why is Chang'an San Wan Li (长安三万里) so good. It tells the story of poet-warrior Gao Shi's life through snapshots of the past that get increasingly close to the present, his interactions with poet Li Bai, and how they change as they grow older. Definitely recommended for:
Poets, poetry, and poet culture. This is at the centre of the movie. There are something like 40 poems quoted (in part or in full) at various parts of the movie so you can make a bingo card if you want-
Super complicated and captivating characters and character dynamics. You know. Gao Shi is the 35th son of a declining clan who struggles academically but is a great warrior, who meets Li Bai (merchant's son, so automatically disqualified from the exam you need to become a government official) as they both travel to get government positions in a way that doesn't involve taking the exam. Li Bai is super flamboyant, a larger-than-life personality, and Gao Shi is timid but firm in his beliefs. They travel and part ways, promise to meet again, Li Bai forgets about the promise but meets Gao Shi like they never left, and again and again they meet and part as Li Bai becomes famous for his poetry but loses his political ambition and Gao Shi continues trying to be a warrior despite being more well-known for his poetry. Again and again they make decision the other can't understand, and maybe they have no right to the other's life, but you can't shake past bonds so easily. wrestling naked in the mud when you were 20 let you become Captain at 40 led to you meeting him again in the midst of a treason plot... it's bittersweet and gets really complicated
Gao Shi and Li Bai are the central focus but their connections to other characters (loyalty, rivalry, mentorship) are also fascinating
Chinese history (can't really speak to the accuracy but all the events actually happened and the right people are involved)
the typical angst that comes with being incredibly devoted to a country that has denied you again and again that characterizes a lot of Chinese scholars
reflections on identity and desire, what characterizes who you are and how that changes through time and circumstance
poets getting drunk and writing really great poetry. li bai really did this a lot
amazing animation and great visuals. The cities look so great and the scenes with the cranes and the gods as Li Bai was narrating...
Great use of visual and audio motifs as well, connecting things as time passes
the voice actors did a really good job too - the characters are clearly the same but their voices change as they grow older
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