Midway through my Top 10 films of 202 we have a couple of stand-out films from Asian filmmakers, one familiar, one new to me. Both explore the mental state of the protagonist in ways that are surprising and thoughtful. It’s also great to see films with strong female leads still taking such prominent spots in my favorite films.
#6) The Falls, directed by Mong-Hong Chung – The Taiwanese film, THE FALLS came to may attention very early in the year with some strong reviews after being released in January. The descriptions were vague, something about a mother and daughter dealing with some difficulty while quarantined during the pandemic. That description is not only misleading, it completely misses the power and drama of this film. For brief moments during the first half hour or so, i wondered if I was watching a science fiction film… then a horror film… then the real story began to emerge. I will do you the same courtesy that was given by not revealing any more, other than to say that director Mong-Hong Chung directs a tough film with amazing skill and more importantly, compassion. In addition to the skillful directorial hand, Chung’s screenplay, which he co-wrote with Yoa-sheng Chang is strong as well, telling a story not often seen on screen with tenderness, yet without pulling the punches that may be painful for some to sit through.
The film takes it’s time too, with a two hour-plus running time, that at least one reviewer complained about. I didn’t find it too long at all, despite it’s somewhat leisurely pace. I like how things unfolded slowly… more like life than a film trying to meet a 90-minute running time. The film is really served best by the amazing performance of its two leads, especially Alysssa Chia, a film and TV star in Taiwan. Chia captures the nuance and tragedy of Lo-pin Wen subtly yet with grace and power. Gingle Wang as Lo-pin’s daughter brings it home as well. Two really strong lead actresses. This film might not resonate with everyone, but it’s just the kind of film I love.
#5) Memoria, directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul – A new film by Apichatpong (or “Joe,” as he is colloquially called) is always call for notice, but this, the Thai director’s first multi-national film, set in Colombia, in English and Spanish and with a big international star, was something to really take note of. It helped in a really big way that the international star is Tilda Swinton who manages to bring us along this bizarre and fascinating journey with thoughtfulness and curiosity.
A woman seeks the cause of a strange recurring phenomenon that causes her to hear a loud, specific sound at random times that no one else seems to hear. Her search for a cause leads in many directions, but not, where anyone could possibly expect. The film is filled with shots of great beauty, and moments of sublime drama. Not so surprisingly, there are also moments of sudden, absurd humor that take you by surprise. It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Tilda Swinton in this role (except perhaps Cate Blanchett – the two becoming more and more internchangeable with the roles they’ve been taking). Don’t let the expected leisurely pace and lengthy running time put you off. The journey is exquisite, and the payoff, mind-blowing.