As simple as Yang Zhang's Getting Home (AKA Luo ye gui gen, or "A falling leaf returns to its roots") seems on the surface, this atypical 2007 road movie digs a little deeper than most viewers might suspect. It's a "buddy comedy" in only the loosest sense of the phrase. It's a celebration of friendship, mortality, the human condition and the unbalanced class system of contemporary China. It's loaded with picturesque landscapes, colorful characters and memorable situations. It's about a middle-aged construction worker who carries his dead friend back home on his shoulders.

Wait, what?

Director Yang Zhang (Shower, Sunflower) based this film on real events, at least in regards to the most basic plot elements. In an accompanying film discussion guide included with this DVD release, Zhang recalls a news article about a man who attempted to carry his dead friend back home...but was quickly caught by authorities, as such an act is understandably illegal. Naturally, the director decided to change the story's ending; specifically, what might happen if the man was never caught? Such artistic license has been used here for strictly satirical purposes: Getting Home is an over-the-top examination of such an inherently absurd story, but it's told in a completely natural and poignant manner.

Getting Home is practically a one-man show, not to discredit the fine performances of several supporting characters. Our protagonist is Zhao (played by Zhao Benshan, primarily known for comedic roles), the aforementioned construction worker who does plenty of heavy lifting. His friend Liu (played by Hong Qiwen and, presumably, a mannequin) has just died from alcohol poisoning, and Zhao decides to return Liu to his hometown for a proper burial. Unfortunately, he can't get home easily: money is scarce and most of it is Liu's, which Zhao refuses to spend. Therefore, Zhao must walk most of the distance with Liu on his back, though he graciously accepts rides from motorists and food from generous strangers. Naturally, Zhao gets plenty of strange looks, since he doesn't hide the fact that his friend is dead.

As this unlikely duo travels through southwestern China, Getting Home gradually reveals layers of charm, wit, and poignancy. Most of the locales reveal memorable characters that represent a broad spectrum of citizens: humble workers, petty thieves, vagrants, wealthy families and young idealists, just to name a few. During one of the film's most surreal and engrossing scenes, Zhao speaks to a wealthy man at his own funeral, who died without friends or family. His guests are complete strangers and feign mourning because they're asked to. Zhao gives the most convincing performance: not only is he mourning his dead friend and his own bad luck, but he's also in it for the free food. Getting Home is absolutely bursting at the seams with encounters like this---and as Zhao continues to walk towards his destination, he'll learn more about his own reasons for staying alive.

It's not for all tastes, but those in the mood for a road movie well off the beaten path should enjoy Getting Home---and while Global Film's DVD package is a decidedly underwhelming effort, there's certainly enough here to warrant a closer look.

Presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, Getting Home has not been enhanced for 16x9 displays---and that's practically unacceptable for a 2010 release, especially one with anamorphic menus. It also suffers from noticeable amounts of ghosting and softness, in addition to muddy black levels and mild amounts of edge enhancement. It's doubtful that most of these problems could stem from source material issues, especially since Getting Home is only three years old. In any case, such a rough visual presentation really drags down the film's fine cinematography, which cripples this release right out of the gate.

The Mandarin 1.0 Mono mix also has its fair share of problems; most notably, the entire track sounds flatter and more muffled than a three year-old film ought to. While some of the dialogue suffers from these problems, burnt-in English subtitles have been provided...although they're borderless and a little blurry, which can make them tough to read at times.

There's no doubt that Getting Home attempts to dig much deeper than its premise implies. This story of a travelling construction worker and his recently deceased friend is one of the better "road movies" in recent memory, thanks to a cast of colorful characters and truly memorable locales. The film's deliberate pace, open ending and layered commentary make Getting Home feel a bit longer than its short running time implies, yet it rewards multiple viewings. Unfortunately, Global Film's DVD package doesn't offer a great deal of support: not only is the technical presentation well below average, but the only bonus content is DVD-ROM material. Overall, Getting Home is still worth looking out for...but not as a recommended purchase. Rent It.

Reviewer's Note: The lower "replay" rating is due to the DVD quality, not the actual film.