Jia Zhangke is a filmmaker whose ideas need time 17 years, to be exact to blossom.
The story starts in 2001, the year that China joined the World Trade Organization.
It changes and vanishes every year.
Zhangke maintains that the film should be read as an internal journey.
I even used some of the same costumes that we had used in those two films.
The [cities] where the story happens are also the same, he continues.
And I had a lot of fun with that.
Ash Is Purest Whiteenters limited release in New York and Los Angeles on March 15.
Watch EWs exclusive trailer for the film above.
