Fragmented bursts of pained memories echo through the mind of Luo (Huang Jue) as he wanders the seedy back alleys and streets of Kalil in wunderkind filmmaker Bi Gan’s monumental neo-noir. After discovering a hidden photograph in his late father’s home, Luo is determined to find a woman from his past as he recalls the tragic death of a childhood friend. Each street corner elicits a glimpse into Luo’s past as Gan (Kalil Blues, 2015) invites the audience to immerse themselves in a hypnotic cinematic reverie; never sure what is real, a memory, or a dream. Just as it seems that the coming daylight will bring answers, a cinema marquee beckons Luo inside. As Luo drifts off into the unknown, Gan astounds with a one-hour, miles traversing 3D take that will be interpreted for years to come. An absolutely stunning foray into dreamy aesthetics and mood, Long Day’s Journey into Night will linger in the soul even as, like Luo laments, the memory rusts.

In competition for the Rick Jay Magic of Cinema Award.