Although the title is The Woman in the Dunes, it is about an man who falls victim to a vicious trap set by a remote village council, becomes a virtual prisoner in an derelict isolated place, and strikes to reclaim his freedom with all means.
The surprising turn is, in the end, he chooses not to take up the route for freedom. And in a 'civilised' world he once occupied, he is reported as'lost'.
A visual treat of a kind, especially when the camera lingers on forms and shapes of the dunes - it reminds us of many a sensual pictures taken of sand, dunes, and deserts by the world's most talented photographers - the film is an allegory of the works of our minds and how even the most incidental event can disarm our innate desire and will to live to our fullest. A realistic film as well: it traces the minute struggles of an ordinary life - from an idealist to a realist, and how we eventually settle for the simplest pleasure available.
In The Woman in the Dunes, the dunes appear boundless, sensual, appealing and full of lives to an inquisitive visitor with an eye for exotic desert insects, which he keeps in a jar before displaying them in a glass front case. Soon however, it turns out to a silent accomplice of the vicious village council with a hidden agenda. In the end though, it loses the importance in the protagonist's search for freedom when it appears that it is the mind that determines one's fate.
The derelict house, that appears fascinating and welcoming for a tired traveler, has also changed its role many a times in the story. Soon after the man is fed, it first becomes a prison, then a battlefield for its occupiers, and eventually, a place the imprisoned man settles in at his own free will.
The use of space (the vast outdoors and the confined indoors) and the sparse dialogues, all reminds me, strangely, of Chen Kaige's Yellow Earth, made some 20 years afterwards in China. The difference is while in The Woman in the Dunes, it is the trapped woman and the discovery of water in the desert win the battle and get the man to leave civilisation behind, in Yellow Earth, it is an enlightened teenage girl who is devoured by the currents of the Yellow River in her desperate escape from an arranged marriage, is celebrated by everybody on the yellow earth.
March 29, 2011
March 25, 2011
Korean dramas, first impression
Been lent three Korean television dramas by a neighbour. The first one I watched, Coffee House, felt like reading a the Taiwanese pop novelist Qiong Yao's romance - while none of the stories make sense, they grip you nevertheless and to your surprise, you suppress your disbelief and laughing along with it to the end.
I am still quite puzzled at the fact I was able to finish all eighteen 50 minute episodes within three days. The protagonist is a natural born sadist. Although he accepts to help out a total stranger, he lacks interest in carrying it through in a reasonable manner and marvels at thousands of tricks to 'torture' the poor secretary - who, despite her mature age of 25 and a degree in chemistry, is inexperienced and clueless to her surrounding world. Despite being an obvious laughing stock to her 'boss', she remains obedient, resilient, and accepts all the jokes played on her without queries. She appears dumb in front of a man in power.
I like the protagonist much. Though his given profession is a novelist, he behaves more like a spoilt superstar, lacking in depth and ingenuity, and after a little while, his facial expression become rather predicable.
But the story must have its charm - because not only I stayed till 2am to follow the story of romance, it is also the only one among the three dramas I was given that I felt inclined to watch.
I spent the following two nights trying to work out if I should respect my neighbour's wish and watch the other two, but I found them both far too slow in pace and the frequent use of close-repelling. Not only the stories did not seem to stand, the camera dwells on the face for far too long and it depends a lot on the exaggerating performance from all. If the two one hour per episode drama are to go by, Korea appears to a far cry from what might be called a modern society where fast-pace is the buzz word. And I am not sure if I like being the weaker sex there.
I am still quite puzzled at the fact I was able to finish all eighteen 50 minute episodes within three days. The protagonist is a natural born sadist. Although he accepts to help out a total stranger, he lacks interest in carrying it through in a reasonable manner and marvels at thousands of tricks to 'torture' the poor secretary - who, despite her mature age of 25 and a degree in chemistry, is inexperienced and clueless to her surrounding world. Despite being an obvious laughing stock to her 'boss', she remains obedient, resilient, and accepts all the jokes played on her without queries. She appears dumb in front of a man in power.
I like the protagonist much. Though his given profession is a novelist, he behaves more like a spoilt superstar, lacking in depth and ingenuity, and after a little while, his facial expression become rather predicable.
But the story must have its charm - because not only I stayed till 2am to follow the story of romance, it is also the only one among the three dramas I was given that I felt inclined to watch.
I spent the following two nights trying to work out if I should respect my neighbour's wish and watch the other two, but I found them both far too slow in pace and the frequent use of close-repelling. Not only the stories did not seem to stand, the camera dwells on the face for far too long and it depends a lot on the exaggerating performance from all. If the two one hour per episode drama are to go by, Korea appears to a far cry from what might be called a modern society where fast-pace is the buzz word. And I am not sure if I like being the weaker sex there.
March 21, 2011
Life is good
There are moments in life when the thought 'gosh, life is good' creeps into mind.
I had encountered such moments over the weekend - at Joanna Newsom's concert, then at Aphex Twin's.
Musically, and in stage persona, they can't be more different. They were both sublime.
I had encountered such moments over the weekend - at Joanna Newsom's concert, then at Aphex Twin's.
Musically, and in stage persona, they can't be more different. They were both sublime.
March 07, 2011
Possible loves
Judging from Possible Loves (Amores Possiveis), Murilo Benicio is capable of everything: a hopeless yet absolutely adorable mother's boy who refused to grow up and had his mum to run his life; a man who was confused of his sexual orientation after a hot dance with his ex-wife; and a successful yet rigid lawyer who became guilt-striken after initiating an affair with a girl who stood him up 15 years ago.
OK, when we really look deep into all three characters, there might be a lack of depth in characterisation in that they are all more about a particular moment in life, but the performance is of such sublime quality from all involved (the chemistry between mum and son being the most best), Possible Loves outshines most of its competitors in this genre from around the world. I got a sense as well - which was not dispelled even after second viewing, Possible Loves is a possible sequel to... In the Mood of Love from HK. While the latter dealt with love that was strictly bounded by morals, the former beg the question of what if... and comes up with three different answers. Though there was a romantic ending to one of the stories in Possible Loves, the overall mood is sadness, as in In the Mood of Love.
Murilo Benicio is, I know I am biased, probably one of the best of actors. It was a sad surprise to realise that he stars also in Woman on Top, a film that completely failed to impress me, possibly due to its annoyingly sexist and silly poor scripts. I am expecting more from him.
PS: I borrowed Orfeu in my next visit to the library and put it on the first chance that I had. Murilo Bencio played a gangster in a baggy jacket and a tight hat. But probably because he was playing the third fiddle to the pop idol and his Indian beauty queen girlfriend, he seemed eclipsed in it.
OK, when we really look deep into all three characters, there might be a lack of depth in characterisation in that they are all more about a particular moment in life, but the performance is of such sublime quality from all involved (the chemistry between mum and son being the most best), Possible Loves outshines most of its competitors in this genre from around the world. I got a sense as well - which was not dispelled even after second viewing, Possible Loves is a possible sequel to... In the Mood of Love from HK. While the latter dealt with love that was strictly bounded by morals, the former beg the question of what if... and comes up with three different answers. Though there was a romantic ending to one of the stories in Possible Loves, the overall mood is sadness, as in In the Mood of Love.
Murilo Benicio is, I know I am biased, probably one of the best of actors. It was a sad surprise to realise that he stars also in Woman on Top, a film that completely failed to impress me, possibly due to its annoyingly sexist and silly poor scripts. I am expecting more from him.
PS: I borrowed Orfeu in my next visit to the library and put it on the first chance that I had. Murilo Bencio played a gangster in a baggy jacket and a tight hat. But probably because he was playing the third fiddle to the pop idol and his Indian beauty queen girlfriend, he seemed eclipsed in it.
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