Tsai Ming-liang and The Slow, Quiet Devastation of Loneliness
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- Опубликовано: 16 сен 2022
- Films mentioned in this video:
I Don't Want to Sleep Alone
Stray Dogs
Rebels of a Neon God
The Wayward Cloud
The River
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I love movies
Joel, I just want to say how much this channel means to me. Despite being an enormous fan of all your work, what has really drawn me to all your creative projects is YOU as a person. So it's been really nice being able to spend 10 minutes or so a week just listening to you chat about film and creativity. It's beautiful, inspirational and very therapeutic in a way I can't explain. We always read those comments that say "you've really helped me get through a hard time in my life". It's become very cliche at this point. But as someone who currently is experiencing very difficult life hardships, I now understand. You've helped in keeping me going in ways you'll never know. Both as a filmmaker and as a human. Keep being you, dude. Much love.
This might be a bit of a strange recommendation, but when you're ready to watch Goodbye, Dragon Inn, I think you should space it out. I've said before that watching Dragon Inn about two to three weeks before Goodbye, Dragon Inn would be for the best. That movie really taps into this sense of estranged nostalgia that was particular to that time and place, remembering a movie playing all the time as a child, so roughly simulating that might help. I think there's definitely a whole video's worth of unpacking to do with Goodbye, Dragon Inn - when I first watched it I was confused, but on returning to it I found a lot of beauty and meaning that I wasn't receptive towards my first time. Ming-liang is one of the greats, glad to see you dig into his work!
Discovered this channel the other day. Finally, my type of people 😅 so happy that there's a community of people who watch and appreciate lesser-known artists and films.
Slow Cinema as a genre is probably my favorite genre of film. I don't watch it too often but the way these movies use duration to let you meditate and think about what you're seeing is so wonderful and it's really pleasant to be able to let your eyes wander around each shot and look at every small visible detail without any hurry and let your mind wander without losing track of the film. Of Tsai Ming-liang's work I've only seen Stray Dogs which initially I was disappointed with because I was really engaged in the story and confused by the ending, but I've come around to appreciating it since then, and Journey to the West which is the second part of the Walker series that you mentioned in the video, which I loved dearly and definitely need to watch the rest.
From the bunch of Slow Cinema films I've watched, here's a couple that I think are especially worth checking out if you haven't seen them (beyond obvious masterpieces like Tarkovsky's Stalker and Bela Tarr's Sátántángo):
Sleep Has Her House by Scott Barley. Filmed entirely on an iPhone but I really couldn't tell while watching it, every shot is like an organic, living painting. There's a shot of a waterfall fairly early on that made me so relaxed that I had to struggle to stay awake, which usually would be considered a bad thing but it was such a wonderful experience for me. The movie is extremely dark visually and extremely quiet though so you really need to make sure you're in a dark room with no distractions and as quiet an environment as possible. When I watched it at night I had to turn off my PC since it was too loud and watched it on a laptop instead with a pillow under it to make its idling even quieter, and I'm glad I did because it was an unforgettable experience for me. The rest of his movies are mostly short films (Hinterlands is cool too), but he's been working on another feature for a while and I'm really excited for it. He makes all his own music as well, which he has uploaded to his Bandcamp.
Also I want to mention Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Of his movies I've only seen Cemetery of Splendour and Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives but found both of them enchanting. They're a bit lighter in tone for the most part and focus on personal stories but with an entwined folkloric mythology, so there's a surreal angle to it where mystical beings and events happen but are portrayed in an extremely grounded and mundane way, like it's just a part of everyday life. Both of these movies are really wonderful and I'd highly recommend either of them.
A lot of the time, films like Tsai’s have a lot to prove for me in that movies that feel this matter of fact and removed can often end up feeling cold and detached for me. This was thankfully not the case when I saw some of his films.
I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone is absolutely one of the greatest cinematic surprises I’ve ever had. I definitely liked it for the duration of the runtime but then that ending hit me like a goddamn freight train, and I immediately saw it a second time. It left the Criterion Channel before I could see it for a third time, but I own the DVD now and I’m so happy I have it.
I remember one of the first things I ever saw of yours Joel was your review of the film, and in about a month or so one of your videos appeared in my recommended! While we definitely have very different cinematic interests a lot of the time, I’ve always loved your work and it’s been such a joy to see you grow this far. Hope all is well, keep inspiring others and enjoying movies!
I saw Goodbye Dragon Inn and Days at a local theatre. Days has some more back pain themes if you want to connect on that level again. I watched Days as my breakup with my girlfriend was just starting, and that loneliness you talk about hit me hard. But I also found a real feeling of presence. It forced me (bootcamp analogy is right on) to find a place of quiet observation, a certain meditativeness. I absolutely recommend Days, and although Goodbye Dragon Inn wasn't as hard hitting for me, it's cinematography and emotional moments started coming back to me in waves while watching this video. The incredible amount of time you have to process what you're seeing has got to build those imprints in us more readily.
I think I’m in that kind of point in my life (or have been for a long time) that the movie is about. I think the long unchanging shots are very truthful to the situation. Everyday feels like it’ll never end, but always too short, sounds like he hit the nail on the head.
Will have to check it out.
Thanks dude, luv ya bro
Just watched I Don't Want To Sleep Alone. Thank you for this suggestion. It was tough to watch but I felt so satisfied at the end. In today's world of blockbusters and instant gratification, a meditative movie like this is ironically a breath of fresh air. Loved it.
People would assumes film experience to be safe and entertaining, but instead good film are always challenging and inspiring. For people who seek inspiration, they could find everything entertaining without the material being pleading.
I watched Stray Dogs in Taiwan in a cool event. They make people just sit on the floor wherever you want and lot's of pillows painted as cabbage to sit on.
Tsai is so boss that he straight up voted for his own movie on the bfi 100 best movies poll
Love slow paced movies, it feels like time could eventually stop, and you're part of everything :)
Thanks for the recommendation Joel 💚
I think a lot more shots should linger, making the audience feel the awkwardness or tension a few of the best things movies can do
Can we just say that Joel presents us with the best looking talking head shot out of any discussion related channels out there? Btw love everything that you do man, your work has been deeply moving and impactful to me, sending blessings from India!
Wow. Looked up the guy and he's a Sarawakian. I'm definitely gonna watch some of his films.
Thank you for speaking on Tsai 🥺 he’s really taught me a lot in my creative career in shot formation, rhythm, atmosphere, and character. The Hole is my absolute favorite blend of comedy, atmosphere, musical, and sci-fi/spec-fi(?)
Afternoon is such a great insight into him and Lee’s relationship that I feel more directors should make.
I was going back to him a lot after seeing your Pretend to Love Me ☠️🪦
Hands down the best video about Tisa Ming lian on here it’s so hard to find good ones on here
Tsai is my all time fav. The Hole especially is wonderful.
Yes, thank you! Easily one of my favorite filmmakers ever. I remember discovering Rebels of the Neon God on the Criterion channel and I can’t remember the last time I felt like I was personally seen in a film as much before. Such a beautiful representation of teenage angst and being lost and stuck in life that came at the exact time where that was starting to happen to me. If you love how I Don’t Want To Sleep Alone touches on loneliness then I would highly recommend Vive L’amour, which touches on loneliness in a bit more of a depressing way and has one of my favorite final shots I’ve ever watched. Great video as always!
Both you and Tisa Ming Lian on a huge influence on my work as a filmmaker
This is my first time hearing about slow cinema. It sounds like funeral doom metal in visual form.
Have you seen farewell my concubine? I feel like it's pretty well known maybe but i don't know. Either way, really loved that movie. Super dark and just well made. It's a bit lengthy but fantastic.
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring
you've probably seen it....but if you haven't, you should.
I love watching you talk about what you love
Keep it up homie
I think The Hole is the best one for starters. It's so simple and relatable. At least for me, it really pulled on my heart strings from the getgo
I can dig meditative movies. 🧘🏻♀️ I should finish my movies... I meditate in one of them. These movies sound so lovely and relatable. Thanks, Joel. ❤️
This means Edward Yang/New Taiwan Cinema video must break through at some point 😌
As always I appreciate your recommendation of films I might not have otherwise known about, I hope I get the chance to check these out someday soon
I love these videos, I too have a passion for film, it’s so wonderful to see someone with With a similar passion
one of my favorite directors. 'vive l'amour' is my personal favorite
loneliness and use of silence?? i can't wait to watch those films, i really identify with (the way you talk about) them
should i stay or should i go now . . .
Hey Joel, love your work and thank you for discussing so many great directors and films. I get the sense you like character-driven films that focus on relationships so maybe this is a dumb question, but have you seen any of David Lynch’s works? If so, what are your thoughts? He’s a fairly popular surrealist, especially for Westerners, but I know not everyone connects with his films. For me, I feel like his films stick with me because of the imagery and mood, not to mention the thoughts and questions I’m always left with. Anyway, thanks again!
I've thought of the connection of Joel and Lynch too, some similarities in the way they talk about the art and movies and making it up as you go. Lynch did a lot of small animations and shorts before it was cool on RUclips aswell! Very uneasy and often horrifying though :D deffo tough to sit through but they will stay with you, the worlds are so familiar still uncanny and different like you've just viewed a place that does exist somewhere.
Looks like I have another filmmaker to binge. You say there's a movie with a fingerblasted watermelon by the end that still manages to be extremely emotionally by the end? I say game-set-match :^)
Thanks for another baller recommendation Joel!
What do you think of Jean-Luc Godard? I didn’t know about him until I learned of his recent death.
reminds me of stalker
Hey Joel, love keeping up with this channel. Cool to see someone at your level of visibility talking movies outside of hollywood. Have you had a chance to watch any films by Jia Zhangke? I went through a period where I only watched Taiwanese and mainland Chinese films (not trying to conflate the two!), and based on some of your recent videos, I think you would enjoy them. Cheers!
Hi joel have you seen the works of edward yand his style is somewhat similar to what you described
anyone know where to watch the movie? cant find it
was wondering the same thing : (
same prob
Joel, I use the same deodorant as you!
I watched Thor Love and Thunder last night. It was better than the first two Thor movies. It was fine.
Booooo!
the timing is too good, i just started getting into his filmography. thanks for making these videos joel 🫶