Dazzling, layered Chinese sci-fi about three 90s teenagers who can suddenly travel through time.
China, 1999. Three teenagers stumble upon some chemical waste which gives them a unique superpower: when they sneeze, they travel back in time. They also discover they can manipulate the past. So... what should it look like?
Escape from the 21st Century is a lot: director and screenwriter Li Yang switches between characters and timelines at breakneck speed, using an overwhelming amount of VFX, animation and other visual fireworks. Astonishingly, all the plot lines remain clear throughout and Li also touches on some hot topics in Chinese society, such as organised crime and corruption. In the end though, the three teenagers’ worries are mostly personal. Because no matter how far back or ahead in time you travel, you can never escape who you are.
