The last of Odyssey’s in-person screenings was slice-of-life drama River of Salvation by Xi’an-born filmmaker Gao Qisheng. Qisheng is a product of China’s new generation of filmmakers and this feature debut, which was in competition at Xinying’s FIRST youth film festival, is a confidently told and poignant film 

The film follows the unmarried Rong, the sole carer of her soon-to-be eighteen-year-old younger brother Xiaodong, who in her early thirties carries an air of resigned hopelessness above her head. Set in modern-day central China, Rong manages a struggling massage parlor for little pay and with slim marriage prospects. The fate of her female co-workers is barely any less bleak. The only apparent escape from their monotonous existence is through finding a wealthy marriage suitor willing to take them in. It is here where the film casts a vivid image of women from less fortunate stretches of society whose choices are few and whose futures look desperate. 

The 4:3 ratio and restrained, static images reinforce the no thrills life dynamic of these characters’ lives. There’s no glamour to be found here. That might suggest this is an equally lifeless viewing experience but the film always remains engaging with its sharp commentary, well-drawn characters, and a sense of something untold lurking just under the surface. Details in Rong’s behaviour hint at deeper anxieties hidden beneath her seemingly honest and well-meaning demeanour. Wariness of the police and an apparent apprehension of romantic partners indicate a damaged past while an overbearing sense of duty towards her brother is the heartbeat of the film. 

With Xiaodong’s landmark birthday looming Rong leaves her job at the massage parlor and with no consideration for her own future, almost resigned that she has none, commits wholeheartedly to aid her brother’s wellbeing and address his lack of independence in preparation for her eventual departure. Though the exact reasons for this only become apparent in the film’s final stages, Rong’s actions still fully align with Qisheng’s powerful statement on the hardship women endure to fulfill a selfless and thankless societal role.