Time, elusion and memories revisited in ancient China
Cinematic flapper
Anna Nguyen
Issue date: 1/12/09 Section: Lifestyles
In 1994, Wong Kar-wai created an elliptically wild film titled "Ashes of Time," the director's only martial arts film. The film holds a very special place in my heart, even more so than "In the Mood for Love," as the late Leslie Cheung delivers my favorite character in a Wong Kar-wai film, a handsome, lone swordsman and desert dweller named Ouyang Feng coping with a lost love and memories while observing other lovelorn travelers' angst.
Many years ago, I purchased the original version on DVD and have seen it on countless occasions. Despite the rather poor DVD quality, the essence of the film was not lost. Fortunately, more than 10 years later, the film is justly released in theaters under the title "Ashes of Time Redux," a remastered version with astonishing colors and haunting vigor.
When the film began traveling to select cities, many reviews were published expressing confusion about the plot and rapport among the characters. Being the innovator he is, Wong cleverly constructs a storyline based on characters from famed Chinese martial arts writer Jin Yong's novels, "The Eagle Shooting Heroes." Although the characters' stories are faintly reminiscent from Jin's novel, the clarity ends there.
A Wong Kar-wai film connotes an immaculate cast, ravishing colors and illustrious music. The storylines of his films, too, are very similar in tone. The element of time is constantly a vital theme in his films, and his characters are always trying to escape a loss or unwanted memories, matters that Wong continues to explore in "Ashes of Time Redux."
Although it takes place in ancient China, the structure of the film is very comparable to his other modern works, implying that this film is another of his studies on memories and its affect on humans.
Ouyang exiles himself in a desert, far away from his former residence in White Camel Mountain. A former famous swordsman, he is driven with greed and opens a business hiring famous swordsmen to take on cheap assassination jobs. Ouyang is cruel and cold both to friends and enemies, particularly adopting a spiteful disposition on love, as his own love life was not beautiful. He acts as the main narrator and sees other characters come and go, each person who also adopts a selfish and malignant manner to survive the volatile temperature of the desert.
Many years ago, I purchased the original version on DVD and have seen it on countless occasions. Despite the rather poor DVD quality, the essence of the film was not lost. Fortunately, more than 10 years later, the film is justly released in theaters under the title "Ashes of Time Redux," a remastered version with astonishing colors and haunting vigor.
When the film began traveling to select cities, many reviews were published expressing confusion about the plot and rapport among the characters. Being the innovator he is, Wong cleverly constructs a storyline based on characters from famed Chinese martial arts writer Jin Yong's novels, "The Eagle Shooting Heroes." Although the characters' stories are faintly reminiscent from Jin's novel, the clarity ends there.
A Wong Kar-wai film connotes an immaculate cast, ravishing colors and illustrious music. The storylines of his films, too, are very similar in tone. The element of time is constantly a vital theme in his films, and his characters are always trying to escape a loss or unwanted memories, matters that Wong continues to explore in "Ashes of Time Redux."
Although it takes place in ancient China, the structure of the film is very comparable to his other modern works, implying that this film is another of his studies on memories and its affect on humans.
Ouyang exiles himself in a desert, far away from his former residence in White Camel Mountain. A former famous swordsman, he is driven with greed and opens a business hiring famous swordsmen to take on cheap assassination jobs. Ouyang is cruel and cold both to friends and enemies, particularly adopting a spiteful disposition on love, as his own love life was not beautiful. He acts as the main narrator and sees other characters come and go, each person who also adopts a selfish and malignant manner to survive the volatile temperature of the desert.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Jacob
posted 1/18/09 @ 10:29 AM CST
Intresting
Post a Comment