Wednesday, October 12, 2011
COME FULL CIRCLE
Today's Wong Kar-Waifilm was
Dung che sai duk / Ashes of Time Redux (1994/2008)
This is his martial arts film but it is not like any other I have seen. The cutting and shooting of the fight scenes is extraordinary. A funny combination of stop action and close up art photography but with great impact.
These are part of a circular run of the seasons in the life and experience as a middle man. If you have someone you would like killed, this guy (Leslie Cheung) will broker it for you.
The early scenes are hard to follow but eventually make complete sense as we circle back through the four seasons to a restart of the story.
This is redux for two reasons. The restart idea of the circular story and, as it happens, Wong re-edited this version so it is a retelling of a retelling. It is still hard for some critics to get it. Ebert, at the link, is mystified. Well, it does take some work Roger.
I liked it very much and, as usual, one needs a few viewings of these films to get the full benefit of the work even though, for now, one will more than suffice.
I will give this film a 5 out of Netflix5 even though it took me a long time to realize that one actress was playing two parts of brother and sister or as sisters. One is Yin and the other Yang. You can't get much heavier than that. Great.
Labels: films
