10 Movies and Shows Similar to Ash Is Purest White (2018)

Description: Shares with 'Ash Is Purest White' a focus on doomed romance and urban alienation in modern China. Both films use their respective cities (Shanghai in 'Suzhou River', Datong in 'Ash') as crucial atmospheric elements.

Fact: Director Lou Ye was banned from filmmaking in China for five years after this film. Features a mesmerizing performance by Zhou Xun. Uses a complex, non-linear narrative structure.

Description: Another Jia Zhangke film that, like 'Ash Is Purest White', examines the human cost of China's economic transformation. Both films blend crime elements with social commentary and feature strong female protagonists navigating harsh realities.

Fact: Inspired by real-life violent incidents in China. Won Best Screenplay at Cannes. Marked a departure from Jia's usual style by incorporating more explicit violence.

Description: Like 'Ash Is Purest White', this neo-noir explores crime and moral ambiguity in contemporary China. Both films feature striking visual compositions and a melancholic tone.

Fact: Won the Golden Bear at Berlin. Director Diao Yinan spent seven years developing the script. Features stunning cinematography of industrial landscapes.

Description: Directed by Jia Zhangke, like 'Ash Is Purest White', this film explores themes of time, change, and personal relationships against the backdrop of China's rapid modernization. Both films share a contemplative pacing and a focus on how societal shifts impact individual lives.

Fact: The film is divided into three distinct time periods (1999, 2014, and 2025) to show the evolution of its characters. It features Zhao Tao, Jia Zhangke's frequent collaborator and real-life partner, in the lead role. The film's title comes from a Chinese proverb about the impermanence of relationships.

Description: Like 'Ash Is Purest White', this film features a complex female protagonist navigating dangerous circumstances. Both films explore themes of deception, survival, and unexpected alliances.

Fact: Director Park Chan-wook's adaptation of 'Fingersmith' transposed to 1930s Korea. Features stunning production design. The film has three distinct parts that reveal different perspectives.

Description: Shares with 'Ash Is Purest White' a sharp critique of class divisions and social inequality. Both films use genre elements to explore these themes while maintaining strong character development.

Fact: First Korean film to win the Palme d'Or. The house set was built in its entirety. Contains meticulous visual symbolism throughout.

Description: Shares with 'Ash Is Purest White' themes of class tension and mysterious female characters. Both films use slow-burning narratives that gradually reveal deeper psychological and social layers.

Fact: Based on a Haruki Murakami short story. Features one of the most ambiguous endings in recent cinema. Steven Yeun's performance earned widespread acclaim.

Description: Shares with 'Ash Is Purest White' a profound sense of existential despair and a focus on marginalized characters. Both films use long takes to create immersive, emotionally intense experiences.

Fact: Director Hu Bo committed suicide after completing the film. The nearly 4-hour runtime consists of only about 40 shots. Based on Hu Bo's own novel.

Description: Like 'Ash Is Purest White', this film explores unconventional family structures and the struggles of marginalized people. Both films balance social realism with deep emotional resonance.

Fact: Won the Palme d'Or at Cannes. Director Hirokazu Kore-eda spent over a year researching homeless families. The child actors had never acted before.

Description: This crime drama, like 'Ash Is Purest White', features a strong female character navigating China's criminal underworld. Both films blend genre elements with social commentary and striking visuals.

Fact: Director Diao Yinan's follow-up to 'Black Coal, Thin Ice'. Features an unforgettable nighttime motorcycle sequence. The lake setting becomes a metaphor for moral ambiguity.