MovieChat Forums > Visage (2009) Discussion > Tsaï splits opinion down the middle

Tsaï splits opinion down the middle

posted 15 years ago by davidevoid
4 replies | jump to latest

Just noticed a second written review of Visage has just been put up on Imdb, so we have a 4 out of 10 and a 10 out of 10, this gives me a lot of hope for this movie! hahaha

Tsaï's is a cinema of cinemas, in particular a cinema of his own cinema, something that the 10/10 reviewer hits directly on the head, the films float with one another, they move around one another, effect one another through the act of relation. Narrative is created cognitively by the viewer, between his films. In particular in his use of actors (watching It's A Dream again it's like a strange ghostly reunion of bodies from I Don't Want to Sleep Alone, are these the same 'characters' of said film? What cinema are they in etc etc?)

Hopefully Visage will play the UK at some point, the more i learn about this film it sounds like it's the next logical film for Tsaï and fits directly into his ovoure.

But as always - like with all great art - Tsaï splits opinions down the centre! Visage has recieved almost as many 1/10 votes as it has 10/10 votes, what does this tell us!?

[–] ferguspearson 15 years ago

oh spoke too soon, the 2nd review has disappeared/

[–] the_crystal-image 15 years ago

Narrative is created cognitively by the viewer, between his films.

This point hits the nail on the head, and for a long time explained exactly what I found exciting about Tsai.

I was underwhelmed by Visage, though. I saw it with a group of Tsai fans. On the way out of the theater a small group of middle-aged women were arguing fiercely with the ticket-taker, apparently trying to get their money back for what was the "worst film of all time." We all chuckled. But then we all admitted that the film disappointed.

It seems like Tsai's reaching a saturation point--there's too many tropes of his previous films he feels compelled to revisit (the first fifteen minutes of the film prominently feature a flood, a parent-child interaction that is simultaneously tender and uncomfortable, a familiar fish, and an even more familiar rice cooker), and in this film that's coupled with an investment in French film history that ends up a burden. Simply put, there were too many balls in the air, and no shape to speak of. There were incredible isolated moments that probably rank among my favorite in 2009's cinematic offerings so far. But in the end I'd have to say I have a certain amount of sympathy for those who mark this film closer to the 1 than to the 10.

With luck, though, it will end up in the UK and you can decide for yourself.

[–] davidevoid 15 years ago

Ah, that's a shame that you all didn't enjoy it all that much. Where did you see it?? Because from what i heard the Cannes showing was messed up a lot (something like the film stopped after 20 minutes, the started again from the beginning etc etc)

Like you say, fingers crossed it'll be released in UK so i can at least have my say (even that is negative)

[–] the_crystal-image 15 years ago

Unfortunately I saw it in Chicago, where there were no problems (except for a bit of soft focus at the beginning). A pristine print and near-ideal viewing conditions make it easier for me to like a film, so I can't really blame my dislike of it on anything but the film itself. (I do have to say that the moments that work best really benefitted from an actual 35mm viewing, and it would be too bad if you don't get a chance to see it in a theater.)