I've never seen Tampopo, but the scene you chose is a great example to explain your point and it's actually a fantastic scene, beautiful idea perfectly executed. I believe that most of the banality in cinema arises from the idea to convey meaning only through literary narration, using words and human ways of expression. Unsurprisingly most of the cases in which meaning is proposed in an inventive way are example of symbolic editing, a direct lesson from soviet montage theory that have little to nothing interest in linear narration and fictional story. I feel really close to the idea of vertovian mechanical eye and to cinema as a way to create reality. The idea of showing emotions, not people feeling them is a powerful one. Trying to understant how visual language can be used in a subtle way to guide experience is something that can give you many new way to look at films. P.S. Sono un po' arrugginito con l'inglese e non volevo venir meno alla (giustissima) impronta internazionale che hai dato al tuo canale, ma i complimenti te li faccio in italiano, hai delle idee molto interessanti e le esprimi in modo chiaro, ti invidio parecchio questa cosa!
@@fotogeniacostruttiva Great comment! Grazie mille per i complimenti. What you said about vertovian idea is one of the mantra of my view of cinema! Well said
Eu sou praticamente obcecada por esse tipo de abordagem em romance, a sutileza, o quase toque, a agonia de saber que eles poderiam se beijar, mas tem um abismo muito grande entre eles. É por isso que Orgulho e Preconceito é tão ipinotizante. Eu ando escrevendo sobre isso e no meio de tantos filmes e livros com cenas de sexo exageradas, isso é um respiro de alívio. Afinal, que anseio é esse de ver dois corpos se tocando? A arte mora nas sutilezas ❤
Thank you for the recommendation. I wouldn't have watched this movie for a bunch of reasons - one of which is that I am almost always turned off when I see the cliche of romance. Instead my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed "Past Lifes". And we went through a proper walk through memory lane regarding our own story (which was also long distance for a few years).
I watched Mulholland Drive when I was still too young and inexperienced to understand it but it really made a huge impression on my teenage self. I still listen to Llorando sometimes when I'm feeling melodramatic lol
Now I understand why I love slow-paced movies. Maybe that's also why I loved "Portrait of a lady on fire", but I should re watch it to confirm if what you said actually make sense with that movie.
This was so beautiful, and actually explained to me what an elder photographer said when I asked him what to study to train my film eye: “study Japanese block printing”. “It is the emptiness that emphasizes fullness,” as you said. WOW. 🙏🏽
Thanks for this essay. It put into words something that I've never been able to explain to myself quite properly, the reason why I usually dislike romantic movies. It's like someone else in the comments said: it's not that the subject is boring, it's just that filmmakers often don't know how to approach it in a meaningful and relatable way.
This "real" representation of love makes me feel like the characters are kind of sad rather than being happy or at peace. I don't know what it really feels like to be in love with somebody, but I sure have felt those 'voids', those long silences walking side by side. They don't feel good.
I'm a student in Taipei Chien Kuo High School, which is the brighter summer day that was shot. I'm also Edward Yang's huge fan, and I appreciate this video. It's beautiful. CK is also where Edward Yang finished his high school. I heard that the murder happened when he was studying here. (im not quite sure about that) btw, the high school is nearly unchanged. The red building has been my fav part of my high school since I saw the brighter summer day. oh, btw, again, the school where the daughter in Yi Yi studied is Taipei First Girls High School. It is just 500 meters away from CK. I have some friends there.
When my ex girlfriend broke up with me, my thoughts were not filled with us having sex, or long, passionate eye contact. No slow motion view of her in the sunlight or the way her voice sounded perfect every time. My thoughts were filled with quiet walks with her hand in mine, the warmth of her cheek on my chest, our stupid conversations about Vtubers, and sharing a quiet meal together. Love, when genuine, is always in the little things.
As someone who doesn't really like romantic movies at all, this comment section is kinda whacky. Some people say that all Westerns romantic movies are dirty/porn-like and all that, I can't help but ask maybe the problem is you? One of my fav romantic movie (the one I actually tolerate and like) is Before Sunrise. There's nothing vulgar about that movie. In fact, it has all properties of what makes a good romantic movie - dialogs, focus on emotions and connections between people. Exactly what Past Live is doing. Past Lives to me is a deeply sad movie about being stuck in the past, to dwell on something that long gone. The worst part, being the one who stuck on lost feeling, lost opportunity for love meanwhile the other person is moved on long time ago and happy with their new life, focusing on what's present and given.
The Bulgarian film Ága has very little dialogue, while not entirely a romantic film, I found the representation of the protagonists marriage life beautiful.
Oh yes Satoshi Kon, I still remember the feeling of disappointment when I heard he has already died and I would never get more of that something special
Masaki Yuasa is truely unique and I like how he uses his resources in movement and camera to distort reality into something personal like how fast you feel when you’re falling from high place vs shot of falling camera
The most annoying romance films are the ones that are basically pornos in disguise. Exploiting basic libido and parading it as ordinary art is serious clownery. Glad you covered these subtle and more thoughtful pieces. Nice video essay.
He often uses static frames, with standing camera. When he does not, he pans camera horizontally, to express the sense of solitude of the characters in the modern Taipei. He uses very simple techniques which makes his films more interesting to watch because he can arouse ideas and emotions thanks to so few techniques
Another great example of this technique is the film The Zone of Interest. It's a very powerful piece that happened to be nominated for Best Picture this year. I highly recommend folks give it a watch!
Great video! The centre of gravity of Cinema is still Hollywood, but that could change soon... Asian movies are conquering more and more prestige. Their way to make movies looks so full of identity and folkloristic whitohut the need to imitate Americans...There's a lot to discover!
I keep telling people "romance is not by itself a boring movie subject, it's just that we don't really know how to make them". There have been good romance movies, but sadly love is the most drowned-in-cliches subject EVER.
It reminds me of the fact that more than 50% of human communication is non-verbal. Me as a guy always wanted to entertain because "if the girl laughs she likes you right?". Shouldve invested more in silence and the moment itself. About what she might be feeling and what I am feeling. Ive just wasted a lot of time with talk.
I recently watched The Heroic Trio, I want to explore better his filmography, but I really appreciated it. Thanks for your input, I will keep watching his films
This film looks really funny, I'll give it a watch, thanks for the suggestion, I like that you do not stick to the mainstream cinema but explore to expand our culture. Thank you
Note that there's an exception to my argument about Tarantino: Django Unchained, that is more "opened" to make the style count outside its own sake. Anyway, enjoy the video, I hope you all can discover the little masterpiece of comedy that is Chinese Odyssey 2002!
not related to the video but repent and believe in JESUS CHRIST! john 3:16, "for God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
I watched this movie last night and loved it, but I felt like you left out some crucial details when describing their relationship: mainly, you made it seem like Nora and Hae Song were so intimate and close that they didn't need to hold hands or talk all the time or be sexually passionate in order to know that they loved each other. In actuality, they have a really good reason not to be affectionate (namely, her husband). The tension in that situation is heartbreaking, but it definitely wasn't what I expected from watching this video. Glad you convinced me to watch it though!
This is why I always adore asian romance movies instead of Hollywood. Asian has better storyline and complexion. Makes them feels really pure and lovely. Otherwise Hollywood only do kisses, sex. I really hate it. Makes women just as an object
bro, I like commentary videos but you might want to improve on your audio and voice over. Audio is too loud, pick something on consistent volume instead of heavy percussion. The voice over is weirdly spaced out like you're reading a script for the first time. It feels unnatural and insincere. Please dont take this as hate, but opinion on how you can still improve your content. Good luck!
