Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains is a drama film directed by Gu Xiaogang. It tells the story of a family in the Fuyang district of Hangzhou, China, as they deal with the aftermath of their mother's stroke and subsequent diagnosis of dementia.
The four brothers, Gu Qing (played by Wang Fengjuan), Gu Wei (played by Gu Xiaoping), Gu Liang (played by Liu Fengjuan), and Gu Xiaoke (played by Wang Fengjuan), are all successful in their own industries but struggle with their own family problems. Gu Qing, the eldest brother, is a carpenter who is losing his eyesight. He is estranged from his wife and daughter, who live in another part of China. Gu Wei owns a construction company and is in an unhappy marriage with his high school sweetheart. Gu Liang is a doctor who is struggling to connect with his teenage daughter, while Gu Xiaoke is a writer who is struggling with writer's block.
The film takes place over the course of four seasons, with each season presenting new challenges for the Gu family. As they struggle to take care of their mother, tensions rise between the brothers, and they are forced to confront their own shortcomings and the secrets they have been keeping from one another.
Throughout the film, Gu Xiaogang interweaves stunning landscapes and traditional Chinese culture, creating a beautiful and immersive portrait of modern China. The film's title is a reference to a famous painting by Huang Gongwang, which depicts the Fuchun Mountains in Zhejiang province. Like the painting, Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains is a meditation on the passage of time and the transient nature of life.