In 1917 Yangon, British civil servant Edward flees just before his wedding to fiancée Molly. Determined to marry him, Molly crosses Asia in search of Edward. The title Grand Tour refers to the early 20th-century tradition of a journey across Asia, typically starting in India and ending in the Far East (either China or Japan). Director Miguel Gomes began his own “grand tour” for the film in 2019, shooting in Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Japan. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 and the subsequent closure of China’s borders forced Gomes and his crew to return to Portugal. Some parts of the film were later shot in studios in Rome and Lisbon. How, then, was it possible to obtain footage from China? Remarkably, Miguel Gomes remotely directed the Chinese scenes from Portugal, working late into the night due to the time difference. This is where the miracle of Grand Tour truly lies. By capturing the journey of the two lovers, Gomes creates a sweeping and immersive spectacle. The film juxtaposes captivating documentary images of modern Asia—showing harvests, religious festivals, and motorcycle parades—with an imagined Orient drawn from an adventure novel, where a protagonist crosses misty rivers and wanders through enchanting nighttime forests. Miguel Gomes comments on Grand Tour as follows: “There is a immense tour in this film that unites what is divided – countries, genders, epoques, the real and the imaginary, the world and cinema. It is this grand tour that I would like to invite the audience. And this is what cinema is for, I believe.” (SEO Seunghee)