Visible in France since Wednesday, “The Return of the Swallows” rose to the top of the box office when it was released in Chinese theaters. A success that was not to everyone’s taste…
The Return of the Swallows by Li Ruijun
With Wu Renlin, Hai-Qing…
What is it about ? It is the story of an arranged marriage between two beings despised by their families. Between them, shyness gives way to affection. Around them, rural life is falling apart…
Banned in China for political reasons
Qizi Films Limited
When selected at La Berlinale in February 2022, The Return of the Swallows was screened in a version edited by Chinese censors, who changed the ending to deliver a more politically correct happy ending.
When it was released on Chinese screens on July 8, 2022, the film met with great success: it brought in 100 million yuan in 62 days for a budget of 2 million. However, the feature film was withdrawn from cinemas on September 26, victim of the censorship of the regime in place. When The Return of the Swallows is released on the platforms, success is again at the rendezvous. It is then totally banned and the director Li Ruijun is placed under house arrest.
Why is this film such a threat to the government? By staging two characters who live in extreme destitution, the work contradicts the Chinese Communist Party, which proudly announced in 2021 the end of absolute poverty.
A mysterious title
Qizi Films Limited
The Chinese title of the film, Yin ru chen yanmeans “Hidden in the land of ashes and smoke”. “It means that past eras, past lives, are not gone. They are simply buried in the ashes. What we no longer see does not cease to exist. This complicated title has a much simpler meaning than ‘it seems’reveals the director.
With this film, Li Ruijun wanted to film the land where he was born and pay homage to the rural way of life doomed to disappear in favor of urbanization: “I wanted to preserve a trace of these rural and simple existences, to pay homage to this land which nourished my soul and remains my main source of inspiration.”
A family shoot
Qizi Films Limited
Li Ruijun built the film farm with his brother and father, as well as the main actor, Wu Renlin, who is also his uncle, and the latter’s son. Together they grew the crops until they were harvested.
Filming was divided into five parts and lasted 85 days, from March to October 2020, following the rhythm of the seasons, following the cycle of crops and bird migrations.
The pandemic has undermined production. “It’s difficult to pay the crew when the money is lacking on a daily basis. And during the filming, we had to continue to take care of the animals and the crops”, underlines the director, who also held the positions of editor and artistic director. Even though it was exhausting, it allowed him to save money because the budget was very tight.