Short Film Review: “The Other Side of the Mountain” – A Poetic Journey Through Time in.

Filmmaker Yumeng He takes us on an evocative and deeply personal journey in her beautifully crafted short documentary, ‘The Other Side of the Mountain‘.

She follows her father, an artist, in search of his childhood home in Southwestern China, fulfilling the wish of his ageing mother. He returns to a place that is supposed to be familiar but has long changed. The history is there, but the streets are unrecognisable. As he retraces his steps through a city he once knew, the film captures the heartache of change. The streets of Chongqing, though rich in history, are now unrecognizable. Development, industrialization, and the inevitable tide of time have transformed the landscape beyond recognition. Yet, within these transformations, the city retains scars of the past.

The film captures these contradictions with remarkable subtlety. The narrative flows as Yumeng and her father navigate the streets, speaking to locals, and even making a heartfelt video call to her 90-year-old grandmother, hoping she might recognize something that could guide them. These moments are intimate and touching, illustrating the profound connection between generations and the bittersweet ache of nostalgia.

Visually, ‘The Other Side of the Mountain‘ is stunning. Every frame is meticulously composed, with deliberate pans, tracking shots, and what seem like random yet purposeful visuals. Yumeng He’s attention to detail is evident, as each shot feels like a canvas, capturing the beauty and melancholy of her father’s quest. The visuals are complemented by an equally thoughtful sound design. Carefully placed voiceovers and ambient sounds blend seamlessly with the scenes, adding layers of depth to the storytelling. Even the natural sounds of the city seem to speak, narrating their own version of its transformation over time with echoes of the past.

The film also deploys an interesting format. It has the intimate feel of a travel vlog but sheds the upbeat tempo of conventional online content creators. Instead, it adopts a meditative pace, inviting viewers to read between the lines and discern the deeper narrative Yumeng is trying to convey. This laid-back approach aligns beautifully with the film’s themes, creating an experience that feels less like passive viewing and more like participation in the father and daughter’s reflective journey that is more than just want the film captures of your eyes and your ears.

Yet, for all its strengths, the film feels both lengthy and incomplete. At 20 minutes, it seems to touch on its themes without fully unpacking them. Expanding it into a feature-length documentary could have provided the space needed to build a more robust narrative and arrive at a more profound conclusion. But perhaps brevity was Yumeng He’s intent, a deliberate choice to leave viewers with something less mundane to ponder over much like her father’s search for a place that exists only in memory.

Despite this, ‘The Other Side of the Mountain‘ remains a triumph of short-form storytelling. Yumeng He’s ability to weave personal narratives with broader cultural and historical observations is compelling. The film stands as a testament to the power of cinema to capture not only what is seen but also what is felt. These intangible emotions linger long after the credits roll.

With its poetic dialogue, exquisite visuals, and thoughtful soundscape, this documentary short is an impressive achievement. I will score this film 4 out of 5 stars.

It’s a poignant, visually stunning piece that reminds us of the ever-shifting nature of time, place, and memory. The film will have its world premiere at the 2024 International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam.