Would you still watch a movie that seems boring? “Return to Dust,” directed by Li Ruijun, doesn’t contain any of the elements often considered indispensable to a movie: a magnificent worldview, a complicated and tortuous plot, or an exciting climax. It focuses on Ma Youtie and his disabled wife, Cao Guiying, living in 2011 in Northwest China with scarce resources. Despite their hardships, they appreciate the world’s simplest warmth.

This film shows the honesty, kindness, and gentleness of rural laborers. Absent of grand scenes and complicated dialogues, the small actions make these characters extremely realistic. At the beginning of the film, Youtie and Guiying face poor living conditions. Youtie works to strive daily to improve their lives while simultaneously taking care of his wife. In a rainstorm scene, Guiying asks Youtie to help her cover the mud bricks they are using to build their house with a protective plastic bag, but Youtie takes it from Guiying and wraps it around her shoulders instead. Guiying also tries to help her husband as much as possible. One cold winter night, to let her busy husband enjoy the warmth earlier, Guiying takes the risk of carrying a light and hands hot water to Youtie. With the intelligent direction of Li Ruijun, the film proves that love does not require grand gestures. 

In addition to the rich portrayal of the characters, the rural atmosphere is also realistic and effective. The filming location is set in an authentic rural area. Except for Guiying, all other villagers, including Youtie, are played by real-life fellow villagers of director Li Ruijun. In addition, there isn’t much background music, so the movie’s atmosphere isn’t disturbed, and the story slowly evolves with simple shots.

The exploitation of the poor by the rich is also a problem in rural areas, and Li Ruijun portrays it realistically. In order to save the landlord’s life, Youtie donates his rare blood to him, receiving nothing in return from the rich landlord. Since most older generation viewers in China have experienced similar incidents, these scenes give them an immersive feeling, arousing their sympathy. Moreover, the director avoids excessive narration to explain the plot’s background, rather, he allows the simple shots of the setting and the dialogue between characters to speak for themselves.

Li Ruijun does not romanticize love or life in this movie. He reveals the most cherished traits of tenderness and selflessness through the simple relationship between Youtie and Guiying. On the loess, Youtie and Guiying make their lives abundant through hard
work and kindness. Just like the “wheat flower” Youtie seals on Guiying’s hands, although ordinary, it represents the sincere and beautiful emotions in the hearts of rural laborers.