66 A Stone Stirs a Thousand Ripples

Describing the movie "[Immortal]" as causing a stir is no exaggeration. Before seeing the movie, no one expected it to be so excellent and impressive. One reporter who attended the premiere described it as "a film that sends the brain into a whirlwind!"

After viewing, the reporters and critics wrote overnight reviews. Consequently, the day after [Immortal] was released, various newspapers, magazines, and online media started publishing their reviews.

The first to release a review was Jiang Cheng's own "Southern Weekly." The newly revised "Southern Weekly - Entertainment Edition" finally hit the jackpot with its headline "Alternative OR True Sci-Fi Movie," filled with interpretations and praises for "[Immortal]":

"What would you feel if a friend you've known for five years suddenly told you they were a person from the Qin Dynasty who has lived for over 2000 years?

You'd laugh, thinking they're insane. You'd question them from the perspectives of biology, archaeology, anthropology, history, and more. Yet, you find that they smoothly answer every question, with clear memories of each era.

Gradually, you're torn between belief and skepticism, even inadvertently questioning everything you ever knew...

'[Immortal]' is just that stunning. Possibly the least invested in sci-fi film in history, it cost only 100,000 RMB and was shot in a small room with a few people conversing. Yet, it far surpasses any big-budget, high-tech sci-fi movie. No other film has encompassed all human questions—philosophical, geographical, political, historical... You thought you had basic knowledge, only to realize how vague it truly is.

The person before you claims some people can live forever due to different cell renewal and immunity, making eternal youth possible. You find this absurd, yet can't disprove it—it's theoretically possible.

They tell you they once assisted Liu Bang as Zhang Liang, struck the Xiongnu as Huo Qubing, saved lives as Hua Tuo, helped Zhu Yuanzhang establish the Ming Dynasty as Liu Bowen, wrote with Wang Xizhi, discussed martial arts with Li Bai, composed poetry with Su Shi, and even sailed with Zheng He, witnessing the Western Industrial Revolution!

Are you willing to believe all this? Nearly every sentence challenges your mind and soul. Is this how history was made? Is the world really like this, or is he just a delusional madman?

You feel insignificant in the vast river of history, a fleeting memory in the series of events that determine fate. Soon, your life will end, but he, seemingly eternal, continues.

You even feel injustice. Both mere mortals, he becomes a legend, and you return to dust. Hours ago, you thought you were just fellow school instructors.

Professors of psychology, archaeology, neuroscience, biology... these scholars, with knowledge beyond the ordinary, waver before this unfalsifiable theory. In the end, it's up to you to believe or not.

Sitting in front of the screen, I envy those in that small room, who inadvertently experienced life's most extraordinary moments and doubts. Whether you believe or not, such an experience is unique and beautiful.

I, too, want to believe everything I heard that night. Anything is possible in the human world, an accidental blip in the cosmos. Even if all historical figures were combined into one, why not? Just imagining the possibility excites me.

More often, I'm dumbfounded. I used to think sci-fi was just about outer space, dinosaurs, or future dystopias wrapped in fancy visuals. But this genre can be so simple and profound, prompting deep thought in just over eighty minutes.

Used to seeing aliens, future beings, and ancient beasts dominate the screen, returning to an authentic, identical "human" we encounter inquisitive and challenging power. No wonder Jiang Cheng chose a script with less than ten actors and only two settings, indoors and out.

Before this, we doubted this youngster, thinking he was playing with fire. Who did he think he was? With only 100,000 RMB investment, fewer than ten actors, and less than twenty days of shooting, he called it a sci-fi film. Was he fooling anyone?

But now we know, this isn't a traditional sci-fi film. In "[Immortal]," we see Jiang Cheng return the movie to its essence—narrative. Or, to delve deeper, it returns to the roots of sci-fi: fantasy.

In this film, Jiang Cheng creates a self-consistent theory. Anyone hearing it can choose not to believe, but they can't outright refute it. Compared to Hollywood's high production costs and reliance on visual effects, we can say that Jiang Cheng has used his imagination to bring a refreshing mental exercise to audiences nationwide…" — Southern Weekly: Entertainment Edition"

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Known for being commercially safe, "Watch Movies" magazine used the headline "A Lesson from a Youngster: Sci-Fi Doesn't Equal Special Effects!" and was filled with enthusiastic praises for [Immortal]:

"Imagine a person from the Qin Dynasty who has lived for thousands of years to the present day, experiencing or even triggering countless major historical events. He wrote with Wang Xizhi, drank with Li Bai, conversed with Su Shi, sailed with Zheng He, and even inadvertently tutored a 'great sage.' Over the long years, to protect himself, he continually integrated into and moved between communities, until one day he decided to share his story, leading to this movie.

The pacing and atmosphere of the film are comfortable, unfolding entirely in a narrow living room through characters' dialogues. The filming technique brings novelty; without dramatic suspense, epic love transcending life and death, or dazzling special effects, it's just people sitting in a living room, smoothly responding to various inquiries—art, religion, history, geography... a calm and steady stream of thought. For one and a half hours, the tension is maintained. Appropriate music, romance, loneliness, and cleverness!

Describing this movie as plain is more than fitting. In it, Jiang Cheng doesn't deliberately flaunt any personal talent. At first glance, it seems like a rookie director's debut, but a closer look reveals the vibrant talent of this genius young director in every carefully crafted plot line and thoughtful filming technique.

Moreover, we must remember, he's only seventeen! Just starting university! We have every reason to believe that in the future, he will be a significant figure in China's film industry. Because he's a true genius!" — Watch Movies

....

"We've always believed that sci-fi movies are just about reconstructing time and space, with historical aspects blurred as temporal-spatial points. However, after watching '[Immortal]' last night, we realized that history as fresh material for movie creation might be even more reconstructive than 'time and space warps'! This creativity seemed exclusive to Western film-making.

The movie stems from historical imagination, which isn't structurally but decoratively imaginative. Commercial films using history as material sell not on restoration but on reconstructing history. '[Immortal]' tends towards mundanity before the climax, hinting at a return to reality. Yet the plot twist leaves you unsure whether to believe or not. But that doesn't matter anymore. The director wants to tell everyone through this contradictory ending that whether you believe it or not, history is there, unchangeable, whether it's as depicted in textbooks or as he told you. Whether you reconstruct history or adhere to it is your choice. Director Jiang Cheng perhaps wanted to engage the audience with this question, and undoubtedly, he's done it well!" — "World Cinema"

Compared to the commercially focused "Watch Movies," the renowned "World Cinema" took a more practical and professional stance but also unexpectedly lavished praise on Jiang Cheng.

"Explaining the world in an unforeseen way, then abruptly bursting it, returning to reality, but leaving a hint of a mysterious smile as it departs. Such themes have never lacked an audience. Between the mundane and the fantastical, most prefer the latter, regardless of truth. Tirelessly delving into stories shrouded in mystery!

Jiang Cheng's story, at first glance, seems like bait-and-switch, bearing the title of a sci-fi blockbuster but lacking any traditional sci-fi traits. Initially, the ordinary visuals, mundane plot, and confined setting give a sense of deception. But as you watch, there's only one way to describe it: 'To hell with special effects and saving the world!'

Sci-fi isn't about technology; it's about 'scientific fantasy.' As Hollywood blockbusters dominate, more people embrace the Hollywood style, forgetting that sci-fi originated from 'scientific fantasy,' with technology merely being a manifestation of such fantasies, not the entirety of sci-fi. This seventeen-year-old, with his approach and film, reawakened people's initial understanding of sci-fi and paid homage to the pioneers of sci-fi filmmaking!" — "Star Weekly"

...

"Many sci-fi films narrate around time as the main thread, with historical issues either overlooked as temporal-spatial nodes or preserved as temporal-spatial segments. The film's protagonist, through narrating history, completes the traversal of these temporal-spatial segments, with historical questioning revolving around adjusting and reconstructing from one segment to countless others.

A significant innovative idea that has influenced human development is undoubtedly a product of its time, answering urgent questions and unraveling long-standing puzzles.

Perhaps this is the greatest insight '[Immortal]' offers us.

It might lack dazzling shot transitions, eye-catching special effects, and soul-stirring moments, but it's precisely such a film that leaves you deep in thought afterward!" — "China Newsweek"

....

"Genius ideas, unexpected plot twists, and excellent performances make up the movie '[Immortal].' The young director Jiang Cheng brought a 'brainstorm' with a sci-fi film that isn't quite sci-fi!

Although the acting could improve and the directorial techniques are somewhat naive, in this film, the director's ingenious ideas cover up these flaws while completely overturning our previous perceptions of sci-fi movies. This surprisingly young director tells us a lesson with his film: the essence of movies isn't about piling up money, but about crafting with heart!" — "China Television Report"

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Of course, there are criticisms as well, as nothing can please everyone. However, most negative reviews appeared online.

"What's all this nonsense? Sci-fi movie! They must be kidding!" — Wandering Little Bird;

"Incomprehensible and confusing, trying to bamboozle people?" — A Sheep from the North;

"So disappointed! Just a waste of money!" — Unhappy Master...

Most viewers, faced with these contrasting opinions, became curious and flocked to cinemas to watch.

Meanwhile, the first-day box office data for "[Immortal]" was delivered to Jiang Cheng and Cai Yinong.