The Shadowless Tower (2023) review

Food writer Gu Wentong (Xin Baiqing), who's been divorced for two years and having a hard time recovering emotionally, has a chance encounter with photographer Ouyang Wenhui (Huang Yao) and they become friends, take a tour of the sites of the city, including the Miaoying Temple (which is referenced in the title) ... but he also can't get over a lost connection with his father (filmmaker Tian Zhuangzhuang), an alcoholic who was previously convicted on molestation charges.  It uses the familiar "older man, younger woman" setup, but there's no solid reason why she'd be interested in him other than that's what the screenplay (by Zhang) commands, and the majority of the screentime consists of the characters doing a lot of walking, smoking, eating or reminiscing about the past.  Naturally, it's swelling with National Pride (because that's a requirement) but at least for being propaganda it looks shining and modern: cinematographer Piao Songri makes Beijing seem like the kind of place you'd theoretically want to walk around at night with a loved one.