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Poster for Return to Dust

Return to Dust

Seen it?

2022 | 133 min | Drama, Romance

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (95% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop and almost no lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for romantics. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Warm and romantic.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 13 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in Chinese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Humble, unassuming Ma and timid Cao have been cast off by their families and forced into an arranged marriage. They have to combine their strength and build a home to survive. In the face of much adversity, an unexpected bond begins to blossom, as both Ma and Cao, uniting with Earth's cycles, create a haven for themselves in which they can thrive.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    95% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.3 out of 10

  • AwardsWeak

    Nominated for 1 Berlin award.

  • Box office & staying powerWeak

    $14 million worldwide

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 10K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Li Ruijun

  • Wu RenlinMa Youtie
  • Hai QingCao Guiying
  • Yang GuangruiZhang Yongfu's Son
  • Dengfeng ZhaoMa Youtong
  • Cailan WangSister-in-Law
  • Jiangui ZengMa Youtong's Eldest Son
  • Wu YunzhiMa Youtong's Second Son
  • Zhanhong MaBrother Guiying
  • Cuilan WangGuiying's Sister-in-Law
  • Caixia XuMa Hongmei