30 Aug 2006

The Wayward Cloud

Original Title: Tianbian Yiduo Yun

Director: Tsai Ming Liang

Language: Mandarin with English subtitles

Starring: Lee Kang Sheng, Chen Shiang Chyi, Lu Yi Ching, Yang Kuei Mei

Awards: Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Achievement, International Critics (FIPRESCI) Prize and Alfred Bauer Award, Berlin International Film Festival

Screening: 2005-08-09

Think you are familiar with the works of Tsai Ming
Liang? The Wayward Cloud will set you thinking again.


Taiwan is experiencing a water-shortage, the Government is encouraging
the consumption of watermelon juice in place of water. Lee Shiang
Chyi's character haunts the apartment building collecting empty
water bottles while Xiao Kang shoots porn films upstairs. They meet,
they fall in love. Like a regular When Harry Meet Sally,
but hairier and more hair-raising — you will get what I mean...Director
Tsai's favourite themes of urban alienation and commoditisation
of the body and its sexuality have been fleshed to new extreme in
his latest treat.


Bizarre, unnervingly black in its humour, frustrating, meditative,
The Wayward Cloud is a rarity. It is definitely not everyone's
cup to tea (or watermelon juice for that matter) but it's definitely
worth a see — if only just to experience cinema at one of
its most courageous.


Fridae'sREAD
Fridae's exclusive interview with director Tsai Ming Liang. In Chinese.



READ
Fridae Lifestyle Movie Review. In Chinese