​Jia Zhangke's gangster genre film due to hit Chinese theatres in September

Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke's latest film, "Ash Is Purest White", which competed at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, will open in Chinese theatres on September 21.

Chinese filmdirector Jia Zhangke (left), actress Zhao Tao (center) and actor Liao Fan attend a press conferment on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 that announces Jia's latest film, "Ash Is Purest White" is due to hit Chinese theatres in September. [Photo: China Plus]

Jia recalled how he wrote the story.

"The process of completing the script is indeed filled with excitement. The movie is awakening memories of something familiar in a small city, like the past romance as well as those crazy moments. We have included all these elements into our film, which tells how a couple has experienced storms in their relationship in an era between the year 2001 and 2018."

Jia's wife Zhao Tao plays a leading role in "Ash Is Purest White". She costars with award-winning actor Liao Fan, portraying a couple.

In the film, the central couple goes through love, betrayal, separation, reunion and again separation.