Review of What Time Is It There? (2001) by Martin T — 24 May 2008
Tsai Ming-liang's films are seemingly haunted with the ghosts of the absurdist movement in literature. I thoroughly disliked this film upon my first viewing, then liked it more and more as I came to appreciate its odd sense of humour. Beautifully shot, although some may find the rhythm to be unbearably slow - the average shot lasts for over a minute!
What's it about? The Facebook review makes it sound a bit like a romance... it isn't, really... More of a story about the desire for human intimacy, and the absurdity of daily human behaviour.
But then there's all the intertextual references - French new wave cinema, Harold Lloyd hanging from the minute hand of a clock on a skyscraper... I once read an article that suggested What Time? comments upon Taiwanese identity, and the state of its cinema by way of these rather overt references... I only like What Time is it There? because, to me, it really conveys the madness and humour of life.
This review of What Time Is It There? (2001) was written by Martin T on 24 May 2008.
What Time Is It There? has generally received very positive reviews.
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