The Best Is Yet To Come tells the story of Han Dong (White K), a gifted and often stubborn young man who have given up the security of a steady job in their hometown to pursue a dream of becoming a reporter in the big city. When one of the top reporters (Zhang Songwen) at Jingcheng Daily has finally read one of Han Dong’s essays, he’s impressed and offers him an internship. But one day, he uncovers the trafficking of forged health certificates for Hepatitis B carriers; often asymptomatic patients who are unjustly discriminated against as a result of the belief that the virus can be easily transmitted in public spaces. It’s a story that will change his life in more ways than he can even realize.
Inspired by actual events, The Best Is Yet To Come is a solid and vibrant piece of cinema that takes a look inside journalism in a country like China but also takes a minute to highlight some of the problems experience by its people.
It’s easy to tell that director Wang Jing mentored with director Jia Zhang-ke as the film is visually strong, crafting an air of necessity around its leading character allowing the uncertainty and desperation for some people during these times after SARS. That being said the overall script is a little cookie cutter and the actors are engaged but never getting us emotionally connected to them either.
This film is undoubtedly a story worth seeing, but there’s no rush either.
David Voigt is a Toronto based writer with a problem and a passion for the moving image and all things cinema. Having moved from production to the critical side of the aisle for well over 15 years now at outlets like Examiner.com, Criticize This, Dork Shelf (Now That Shelf), and to.Night Newspaper.
He’s been all across the continent; serving on the FIPRESCI Jury at the Festival Du Nouveau Cinema in Montreal, covering festivals out side of Toronto like Calgary Underground Film Festival, CUFF Docs, Slamdance, Fantasia, SXSW, DOC NYC, Santa Barbara Film Festival, New York Asian Film Festival and many others
However, In the uncertain world of modern film journalism, David also knew that he needed to have a hand in writing and cementing his own contributions on the global film scene.
Having eclipsed the 10 year anniversary of his own outlet, In The Seats, where he’s been striving to support film (and TV) from all walks of life and his podcast “In The Seats With…” where after 5 & ½ years and over 750 episodes he’s talked with a wide variety of filmmakers, actors, behind the scenes artisans and so much more on the art of storytelling for the screen, which is spawning the launch of a new show in the Spring of 2026. “ITS: Soundtracks” will focus on the use of soundtrack and score in film which he believes is a combination that is the cinematic equivalent of Peanut Butter and Chocolate.
All this as well as hosting and moderating a variety of big screen events around the city, covering film in all its forms is just a way of life for him.
