Happy Lunar New Year from the USC US-China Institute!
Tsai Ming-liang: The Wayward Cloud (Tian Bian Yi Duo Yun)
Part of the Jack H. Skirball Screening Series-
New Chinese Cinema: The Unofficial Stories of Tang Tang, Fourth Child, Little Moth and Others
Where
Taiwan, 2005, 112 min., 35mm
Los Angeles premiere
"In drought-stricken Taipei, the feverish, sensual and emotional journey of a two-bit porn actor (Lee Kang-sheng, Tsai’s muse) and a young woman (Chen Shiang-chyi) toward an unexpected amour fou unfolds against a droll and surreal background. This is ”the most audacious film to date from visionary director Tsai Ming-liang… As in The Hole (1998), he adds campy musical numbers into the narrative that play against the raw sex scenes, creating a bizarre, existential chaos… His stationary camera perfectly illustrates the isolation and exploitation the characters are trapped in. They are indeed wayward clouds, drifting through life without purpose, in a world without water. And prepare yourself for the film's unbelievable final scene, which manages to be both weirdly erotic and profoundly disturbing.” (San Francisco International Film Festival).
Featured Articles
We note the passing of many prominent individuals who played some role in U.S.-China affairs, whether in politics, economics or in helping people in one place understand the other.
Events
Ying Zhu looks at new developments for Chinese and global streaming services.
David Zweig examines China's talent recruitment efforts, particularly towards those scientists and engineers who left China for further study. U.S. universities, labs and companies have long brought in talent from China. Are such people still welcome?