Post by Kino on Dec 22, 2008 0:55:48 GMT
Director: Jia Zhang-ke
This film is inspired by Jia's memory of his youth. Set during a period of change in China from 1979-1990, the changes and the resulting consequences are examined through a Fenyang theatre troupe. Jia boldly uses music, art, and popular culture (or lack thereof) of its youth to explore China. It serves as a valuable and insightful document on how life was in that time. The lives of the teenagers in this film aren't just a device. We see them live within their sociopolitical environment with much of the concerns of teens anywhere - they got on with living their lives.
Perhaps the reason why I rank this as Jia's best film by a slight edge over Still Life is how we experience the film. Jia has continued to stage in long takes, but he has staged them less and less in long shots. With the long take and long shot style, we see these characters as individuals and groups in their context and environment. That's why to me I feel the government's looming presence in every single frame and second of this film even at the characters' most private, inimate, and mundane moments.
It's a massive yet intimate undertaking and daringly critical work for such a young filmmaker at the time and, in my mind, best exemplifies that Jia is arguably one of the most important filmmakers currently working in the world. Platform is arguably the greatest film since 2000. So far.
This film is inspired by Jia's memory of his youth. Set during a period of change in China from 1979-1990, the changes and the resulting consequences are examined through a Fenyang theatre troupe. Jia boldly uses music, art, and popular culture (or lack thereof) of its youth to explore China. It serves as a valuable and insightful document on how life was in that time. The lives of the teenagers in this film aren't just a device. We see them live within their sociopolitical environment with much of the concerns of teens anywhere - they got on with living their lives.
Perhaps the reason why I rank this as Jia's best film by a slight edge over Still Life is how we experience the film. Jia has continued to stage in long takes, but he has staged them less and less in long shots. With the long take and long shot style, we see these characters as individuals and groups in their context and environment. That's why to me I feel the government's looming presence in every single frame and second of this film even at the characters' most private, inimate, and mundane moments.
It's a massive yet intimate undertaking and daringly critical work for such a young filmmaker at the time and, in my mind, best exemplifies that Jia is arguably one of the most important filmmakers currently working in the world. Platform is arguably the greatest film since 2000. So far.