The World by Jia Zhangke

Category: Non-English

Jia ZhangKe is considered to be one of the foremost directors of the 6th generation and while some call this the Chinese New Wave there have been critics as well. The film deals with the relationship of a couple who works at the Beijing World Park. In this park you can be everywhere - you can be in London, Paris or even Tokyo. With the help of replica's every part of the world is re-created here.

Their life incorporates several of their friends who also work at the park as guards, performers or simple construction workers. Events unfold and as these events unfold it has different reprecussions on them and the people around them. Some characters lose their lives and in their farewell note write about the debts they have rather than a real farewell note. The common thread across the characters remain the same. Everyone trying to find a way to lead a better existence away from their home provinces, but can they really? Or perhaps they can find that solace and peace their mind wants in the Park that can place you physically anywhere in the world.

Jia Zhangke's pace is a little questionable but the dreary existence of an individual is probably better off reflected this way, there's nothing positive in this film if you want some super happy ending and some other rubbish like that. His camera is plain, but far reaching. He looks at the entire issue he just doesn't take one cause. As mentioned in a previous review of "Unknown Pleasures" by the same director he takes a very critical look at the social outlook of Beijing. The cultural mixes brought about by language or simply about people from a different province with an entirely different identity. Brought together by the common goal of achieving something ... or rather striving to get there. He even introduces a Russian lady who has the most noble of intentions, leaving you to wonder about the frailness of social boundaries and the ruthless World we all live in.

Through out the film Jia Zhangke also throws in a bit of animation when his characters recieve messages, what does this signify?

Recommendation level: 4/5. This is a very good film, probably one of the few recommendations in this week! But you need to have watched prior Chinese New Wave to even remotely appreciate this or you need to be a real cinema buff!

2046 by Wong Kar-wai

Category: Non-English

This is really a little too ambitious from Wong Kar-Wai. The film essentially follows the aftermath of the character we all so yearned and cried for at the end of In The Mood for Love. If anything, our heart goes out to him even more, but there's something about Tony Leung playing a protagnoist who is primarily driven by lust this time around. His quest for the next Su Li-Zhen takes him across many people - some old, some new and some with undertones to people whom he has come across already.

Definitely a film to watch but only recommended if you have seen Days of Being Wild & In the Mood for Love. Finally there is also the lovely ladies who deserve a special mention - Carina Lau, Faye Wong, Zhang ZiYi & of course Maggie Cheung. One can't help but feel that Leslie Cheung, had he still been alive would have been probably the perfect ace to be cast into the role. Don't get me wrong, he would not be good for the second film in this trilogy but he would be apt for this role. The evolution of the character literally flows from Leslie Cheung to Tony Leung (Days of Being Wild end) and would have been perfect to return back to Leslie Cheung at the end of In the Mood for Love.

Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps.

Recomendation level: 3/5 - Noble and yes I liked the effort! I just think his depiction of the future and the kind of disconnection he makes his characters experience has gone a little far in this effort. The melancholy and suffering is still sharp and stagnant but he's basically treading too far away from reality and then back to it. Impressive Time and Space adjusting though, less shots of clocks and lesser still of the sky...

Fallen Angels by Wong Kar-Wai

Category: Non-English

Wong Kar-Wai's Chungking Express was considered a pioneer in many ways be it, its technical expertise or it's understanding and execution of relationships in a society in constant conflict. It didn't work towards an ending and let the film simply "be".

With Fallen Angels, WKW tries to paint another portrait of individuals in conflict. His characters typically supressing themselves in one way or another. This one has a hitman, his business partner, a mute man & a blonde - these characters try their best to express. You can argue with me about the Gullit fan but she in no way suffers or is emotionally supressed.

The movie is brilliantly executed, the long lasting face shots interlaced with music and commentary is stunning (Doyle!). The characters are well played and most of all there's the trademark music from WKW. The only let down I had was that he tries to work to an end and that doesn't make it as likeable as Chungking.

Pretty faces all around.

Recommendation level: 4.5/5 - read above remarks! Get it for 4.5 rating I've given, for at the end of the day this is still a WKW movie.

Unknown Pleasures by Jia Zhang-Ke

Category: Non-English

Ah, where do I begin for Jia Zhang-Ke, firstly am very happy to have made the transition into liking Chinese 6th generation film-makers, after Chen Kaige, Zhang Yimou & Wong Kar Wai I was a little skeptical about my own ability to love the 6th generation but I passed with flying colors.

This movie probably demands it's own paper or essay but it hits out at so many issues faced by the Chinese. The film is essentially about 3 youngsters in a town close to Beijing, the film follows their life and their almost dreary existence. The film has such a raw feel to it that it comes across very poignantly.

The film touches on issues ranging from one child per family (China's enforced birth control), it hits on the Chinese regime, the day to day existence and isolation faced by millions of children, the seeking of understanding of ones own traditions and the western paraphernalia we are all bombarded with. There's plenty of pop culture references for people to keep alert (y0 Mtv Generation!) this film is also a part of the informal trilogy of Jia Zhang-Ke on the modern China, so I hope that trivia made you feel good.

Recommendation level: 5/5. The pace might get too slow for the Mtv generation, so kindly be careful if you only like Michael Bay's films. It's out on NDTV Lumiere so it shouldn't be too hard to find in any of the regular places (Crossword/Landmark). At least they got their spellings in the sub-titles right but then there's the punctuation...