The film Cities of Last Things focuses on the life of a man named Zhang Dong Ling, whose life is full of unexpected twists and turns. The movie is set in a city that is not specified and is narrated in reverse chronology depicting how Zhang reaches his current state of being.
The story is divided into three eras. The first era is set in the future, where Zhang is a retired cop living in a dystopian city. He is living with his son, who is a drug addict. The second era takes place in the present where Zhang is an office worker who is going through a divorce and is estranged from his wife and son. He meets a young prostitute named Xiu Xiu, who he takes pity on and even saves her from going to jail for a crime she did not commit. In the third era, set in the past, Zhang is a young man working as a cab driver in the city where he meets a woman who tells him about her unhappy marriage and goes on a wild ride with her.
The movie explores themes of love, loss, regret and the significance of one's choices in life. The film has a distinctive visual style and excellent sound design, the camera flows smoothly moving from one era to the next. The acting in the film is remarkable, and the lead actor Jack Kao delivers an outstanding performance. The film has received critical acclaim, and it was screened at various film festivals. The Cities of Last Things is a gripping, thought-provoking and visually stunning film.