Watch Poet on a Business Trip

Poet on a Business Trip is a poetic, visually stunning film directed by Ju Anqi, which tells the story of a celebrated Chinese poet, Ma Chuong (played by Xianbo Hou), who embarks on a journey across the Gobi desert in search of inspiration for his next work of poetry. The film is shot in black and white, and its cinematography is exquisite. The Gobi desert is portrayed as an otherworldly space, both barren and full of life, that serves as a mirror to the poet's mind. The camera lingers on the emptiness of the desert, capturing the play of shadows and light, and the movement of sand grains, creating a sense of meditative calm that permeates the film.

The movie begins with Ma Chuong leaving his home in Beijing, telling his wife that he is going on a business trip. He boards a train to Inner Mongolia, carrying nothing but a briefcase and a notebook. Along the way, he meets a woman who teaches him how to ride a motorcycle, a group of musicians who perform for him, and a young boy who asks him about the meaning of poetry.

The encounters that Ma Chuong has on his journey are fleeting but revealing. They highlight the theme of impermanence, which runs throughout the film. Ma Chuong's poetry is rooted in his awareness of the transience of life, and his journey reinforces this awareness. He moves through different landscapes, encountering people who have their own stories to tell, but ultimately he is alone, surrounded by the vastness of the desert.

The film is not plot-driven but instead relies on a series of impressionistic vignettes that showcase Ma Chuong's poetic sensibility. He observes the world around him with a keen eye, finding beauty in the most unexpected places. He converses with a camel, admires a beetle crawling on sand, and marvels at a flock of birds flying in formation. His observations are interspersed with fragments of his poetry, which he recites in voiceover.

Xianbo Hou's performance is central to the film's success. As Ma Chuong, he exudes a quiet grace and a profound understanding of the human condition. His face is expressive, conveying the emotions that he feels without the need for elaborate dialogue or action. His interactions with the people he meets on his journey are gentle and introspective, as if he is taking in the world around him with all his senses.

The movie's sound design also contributes to its atmosphere. The sound of the wind, the crunch of sand, and the distant hum of the train create a sense of tactile immersion in the desert landscape. The musical score, incorporating traditional Chinese instruments and modern electronic elements, complements the visuals, adding a dreamlike quality to the film.

Overall, Poet on a Business Trip is an evocative and memorable film. It is a meditation on the power of poetry and the relationship between art and life. It invites the viewer to slow down, to appreciate the beauty of the world around them, and to contemplate the ephemeral nature of existence. With its stunning black and white cinematography, exquisite sound design, and Xianbo Hou's mesmerizing performance, it is a film that lingers in the memory long after the credits have rolled.