NYFF 2020: film #6

“facing the universe makes you feel so very small”

there’s something sadly romantic about spending time alone. many of us do it every day, quietly shuffling around in an art museum, or falling asleep on a train. we learn at the beginning of the film that our protagonist just went through a breakup, but it isn’t spoken about again. instead we silently experience her world along with her, whether it be gazing at a treeline from a window, or taking a stroll in the park. most of it is introspective and requires patience and stillness, but i was more than happy to join in on this quiet journey. definitely my favorite of the festival so far

(** NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL 2020 : FILM #3 **)

Well, the title is certainly fitting.

This movie is one big meditation session. 

This narrative is extremely loose. The conversations that set the plot are few and far in between the bulk of the movie, which is unspoken action shots of our main character finding a new life after her breakup. 

This movie should move slow, but I found it quite captivating for the entire runtime and was shocked when I hit the hour mark so quickly. 

The cinematography is stunning. The muted color pallet is delightful to look out. I personally enjoy all the still shots, but I can understand if some would call it basic or boring.

Overall, solid movie. Just be patient while watching.

VIFF

The Calming is a very slow paced, meditative experience. This movie is about a woman who has recently gone through a breakup and we follow her through her day to day life as she experiences being alone. Visually this movie is gorgeous, some really great cinematography. I also really enjoyed the performances. The best way I can describe this movie is minimalist. Not much really happens in a story sense, but this movie is all about the emotional arc our lead goes through. If you don’t like slow paced character studies this won’t be the movie to convert you, however if you do enjoy films like this I really recommend it.

Maybe a little too tranquil for my tastes, but it's fronted by a quietly powerful performance from Qi Xi and gorgeous shot composition that feels melancholic and reflective as the viewer is allowed to soak up the atmosphere of the narrative. More movies with people sitting on trains and contemplatively staring out the window for minutes on end, please!

THE CALMING doesn’t betray you with its title. It’s a tranquil film from director Song Fang that nestles itself in your mind with its beautifully composed shots, soft lighting & lack of dialogue. Internalizes the aftermath of a relationship artfully but it won’t be for everyone.

After a breakup, some people need noise and distraction to subdue their loneliness, while others, paradoxically, might seek the restorative power of quiet and solitude. Lin, the documentary filmmaker we follow in this spare and exquisitely serene film, falls in the latter camp. As she travels alone by train between China, Japan, and Hong Kong for various reasons—to see her parents, visit friends, screen her latest film—she’s perpetually tuning into her surroundings, searching for solace in the sights and sounds of wherever she wanders. Beyond the stillness, neutral colors, and ambient noise that Song Fang deploys to craft such a meditative experience—there’s little dialogue and not much of a plot—I’m struck by the effectiveness of the editing: cuts are often sharp transitions between noise and silence, and they break the peaceful spell of any given scene swiftly but gently. I easily could fall asleep to this movie, but I mean that as a compliment.

Maybe my favorite film of NYFF so far. Whether it was intentional or not, feels like the truest tribute to Akerman I’ve ever witnessed. And falls into my favorite category of movies: women wandering alone in unfamiliar locations.

Convey me to some peaceful shore,
Where no tumultuous billows roar,
Where life, though joyless, still is calm,
And sweet content is sorrow's balm.
There free from pomp and care, to wait,
Forgetting and forgot, the will of fate.

— Thomas Morell

A film of arresting beauty and tranquility, the second feature from Song Fang—whose Memories Look at Me (NYFF50) was a work of graceful autobiography—follows a young film director as she makes her way around Japan, China, and Hong Kong after a relationship breakup: presenting her work, engaging with friends and artists, and dealing with the realities of aging parents. Amidst all of this, Lin (an effortlessly inquisitive Qi Xi) takes in both lush nature and imposing cityscapes, a woman both alone and constantly engaged in the ever-shifting environment around her. Song’s film refuses to impose psychological motivation on Lin’s perambulations or her art, instead allowing the viewer to experience the world’s disappointments and felicities along with her, and perhaps bear witness to creative rejuvenation.

Nationwide virtual tickets now on sale.

80 minutowe slow cinema, gdzieś między Hongiem a kinowym postmodernizmem. Urocza rzecz

不知道算有沒有看過，但開頭跟結尾都有參與到。

I want to go hiking with dolby 7.1 forest white noise.
Living in the richest district of hong kong complaining flower price is officially my dream now.

Forest bathing. Riding in cars with(out) boys. Peng Chau(!) Sick. Well. Leaves. Snow. Dappled light. Hong Sang-soo's shadow. Hong Kong Arts Center. Windows. Qi Xi. When the libretto hits home.

[watched @ broadway cinematheque, Asian Film Festival]

If Tsai Ming-liang made On the Beach at Night Alone.

Seen at: Broadway Cinematheque, Hong Kong

Spend 90 minutes with an impenetrable character who gets over her breakup by looking into the distance at various places. Soothing, but distant.

The odd film festival circuit meta moments in the Tokyo and Hong Kong scenes were also distracting for me.

Fang demonstrates a lot of promise with The Calming, though my main issue is that is largely lacks a discernible impact in its glacial pace. It's a pleasant vibe throughout, but the film is almost instantly forgettable once the credits begin to role. Sometimes pensive tranquility doesn't necessarily equate to memorable cinema.

中文片名叫《平靜》，電影本身真的是挺安靜的，對話不多（前面女主角跟日本友人的對話超乾)，大多是靜靜地拍攝女主角一個人的旅行和一些日常，做為我在今年2020年台灣女性影展所觀看的最後一部電影，我實在是很不滿意，覺得比想像中更無趣，早知道就看另一部我很想看的紀錄片《記憶彼端的世界》，因為兩部片剛好卡在同時段只能選一部來看，我真的非常猶豫，從一開始選片就舉棋不定、一直搖擺到票都買下去、甚至電影開演前都還在猶豫是否要改看《記憶彼端的世界》（因為我心裡太想看這部紀錄片了，最後是因為《記憶彼端的世界》這場先完售了才死心QQ），沒想到平靜才看不到一半我就開始後悔沒有選另一部了......😫

看了一下Letterboxd上外國人的影評（我想他們大多也是在國外影展觀看的），平靜的好評居多，我猜可能亞洲人的生活和東方文化對外國人而言是很有新鮮感的，也因此他們真的能樂在其中並且從中找到他們想像中東方文化的”平靜”，但對於我一個台灣鄉下長大、後來到城市生活的女生來說，導演拍攝的日常實在缺乏吸引力，返家陪父母的部分我還算有點共鳴，看展覽、走入大自然的風景融入其中或是和嫁給外國人的閨蜜敘舊聊天這些部分我也覺得沒問題，但其他部分通通不行，看著女主角面無表情、一臉厭世，尤其是她講話呆板沒有起伏的語調讓我覺得好乏味，我並不想全片看著一個無趣的主角出現在大螢幕過她的日常啊⋯⋯，可能是因為電影設定是女主角剛跟男友分手心情低落，為了凸顯她在工作之餘的時間是如何努力尋找平靜，因此把她在工作的段落拍得比較輕鬆簡單，但女主角身為一位藝術工作者，這樣的簡化是否把她生活拍得太文青、太夢幻了些呢？依我看，這些片段隨便拿一些去搭配7-11的City Cafe或是全家的Let’s Cafe的廣告台詞都挺合適的，只差沒飄出讓文青們買單的咖啡香（白眼），但說真的，要是導演著重在拍她工作過程如何忙碌我也是會看得很不耐煩吧......無論如何，個人實在是不太欣賞這樣的主題搭配這樣拍攝手法，沒想到這部片在國外這麼吃得開...🙄🙄🙄

映後出來聽到觀眾說：拍一部電影幫自己療傷，實在是一件非常奢侈的事情。

忍俊不禁XDD

但我喜歡這片，她的療傷過程很從未去提及傷痛，努力讓自己用安詳與平靜去掩蓋受傷，好像這樣久了，淡淡的就真的只是淡淡的了。

見山是山，見山不是山，見山又是山。幾乎是體驗式電影了，宋方像是在幫大家療傷似的，只是喜歡的人會覺得得到不少，不喜歡的就會覺得很浪費時間。

我是滿能共感的啦。應該吧？

喜歡媽媽看著跨年電視節目，結果就睡著了。

喜歡媽媽看著老夫妻，感嘆都健康有多好。

喜歡那場劇院裡的靜靜流淚。

喜歡她買酒的時候，自己帶袋子，不用塑膠袋。

喜歡在香港，朋友說一開始不習慣，但日子久了，也覺得沒什麼。

時間或許會解決某些事吧，或許有些時候，裝著裝著安詳，有天就真的不會痛了吧。

電影神奇的地方就在於，它好像在幫我們療傷，卻又讓我們心中的傷能浮出來，告訴你，你其實還沒好。

我其實還沒好。
但我現在很平靜。

齊溪洗練精彩。完全看不出來是當時浮城謎事裡那個小三，她依舊很好，只是有完全不同層面的演技了。

治失眠良藥.......