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April 2, 2015
MOVIE | The Final Feature Film from Master Director Tsai Ming-liang, 'Stray Dogs'
MOVIE | A sensitive portrayal of "modernity" and "loneliness" centered on a solitary father
Master Director Tsai Ming-liang's Final Feature Film, "Stray Dogs"
The final film from Taiwanese master director Tsai Ming-liang,Grand Special Jury Prize at last year's Venice Film Festivaland Best Actor at this year's Taipei Film Festival, "Stray Dogs." It will begin its nationwide release on Saturday, September 6th, at Theatre Image Forum and other venues.
Text by YANAKA Tomomi
Lee Kang-sheng, the "face" of Tsai's films, stars as the father
Born in 1957, Tsai Ming-liang gained international acclaim when his second feature, "Rebels of the Neon God," won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1994. He has since delivered masterpieces such as "The River" and "The Hole." This film, his tenth feature, was presented atlast year's Venice Film Festival, where it received the Grand Special Jury Prize. His sudden announcement of retirement at the festival sent shockwaves through the global film community.
Now, "Stray Dogs," Tsai's final feature, is set for release in Japan.
The film delicately and richly explores "modernity" and "loneliness"—themes Tsai has pursued since his debut—through the story of a solitary father with young children, wrapping them in a unique humor and presenting them with unprecedented boldness.
The lead role is played by Lee Kang-sheng, who has appeared in every Tsai film since his first, and is considered the "face" of his work. His real-life nephew and niece portray the young son and daughter, adding further realism. The cast also includes long-time Tsai collaborators Chen Shiang-chyi, Lu Yi-ching, and Yang Kuei-mei.
A father as a human billboard, children wandering the city like a picnic
In Taipei, a father lives with his young son and daughter. They sleep on mattresses laid out in an empty house without running water or electricity. The father earns meager wages as a "human billboard," standing on the street holding real estate advertisements, while the children spend their days haunting supermarket food courts for free samples.
Despite their impoverished lives, the children's days resemble a picnic in the suburbs. But on a night of torrential rain, the father makes a fateful decision.—.
This film beautifully and poignantly intertwines the unhealed loneliness of humanity with the pure radiance of children. The astonishing long-take final scene, destined to be a landmark in film history, is not to be missed.
"Stray Dogs"
Now playing at Theatre Image Forum and other cinemas nationwide.
Director | Tsai Ming-liang
Starring | Lee Kang-sheng, Yang Kuei-mei, Lu Yi-ching, Chen Shiang-chyi
Distribution | Moviola
2013 / Taiwan, France / 138 min
http://www.moviola.jp/jiaoyou/
© 2013 Homegreen Films & JBA Production