Yin Ru Chen Yan

"Moving drama (...) A delicate pastoral study of love and sorrow (...) An unhurried but hypnotic portrait (...) A lyrical slice of Chinese neorealism, this is an elegiac story, a humanistic metaphor for a vanishing world" 

"'Return To Dust' is a thought-provoking watch with beautifully-judged performances that radiate warmth and encourage empathy. It marks Li Ruijun as a significant cinematic talent" 

"An absorbing, beautifully framed drama that makes a virtue — possibly too much a virtue — of simplicity (...) the movie’s warm heart distracts from the absence of fire in its belly" 

"An especially shockingly unsentimental plot development around the three-quarter mark emphasizes the value of Li’s quasi-hybrid approach, where the dedication to the rhythms of life must carry on in the face of the unexpected (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)" 

"Every frame of this movie is exquisitely considered without seeming fussy or stagy (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)" 

"A touching portrait of love and resiliency in a collapsing rural community of Gansu Province" 

"Li Ruijun's portrait of provincial China is his most moving yet (...) It packs a quiet emotional punch (...) The film is lovingly realised with Li refining his warm-hued aesthetic"