Silence Can Be Absolute

Read Time:2 Minute, 34 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Vive L'Amour (Ai qing wan sui)
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Genre: Drama
Year Released: 1994, 2022 (2K restoration)
Runtime: 1h 58m
Director(s): Ming-liang Tsai
Writer(s): Ming-liang Tsai, Yi-chun Tsai, Pi-ying Yang
Cast: Chao-jung Chen, Kang-sheng Lee, Kuei-Mei Yang
Where To Watch: on Blu-ray/DVD/digital at www.filmmovement.com/product/vive-l-amour

This film is why I think it’s essential to experience a little bit of everything when it comes to cinema. You never know what you’re going to get; every turn can be a surprise if you attempt to go blind. That’s what I did with this film and, in doing so, gained an appreciation that may have otherwise been ruined for me.

At its roots, this is a slow-burn drama about three people sharing space while somewhat unaware of each other's existence. While the film felt familiar to me, I couldn’t quite pin down why; upon looking into it, there were some mentions that Kim Ki-duk’s 2004 masterpiece 3-IRON had plagiarized this film in some form. I don’t know if there’s any merit to that, but I know there is a familiarity between the two.

Ultimately, this stands on its own as a unique story of how haunting loneliness can be. A film that was nearly silent for most of its time on screen could say so much without a word being spoken. It was hauntingly powerful and yet, at the same time, was able to add warmth and comedic twist so smoothly. Even when there’s someone right around the corner, it can feel like there’s not another person for miles in any direction.

There is more to telling a story than just words between two people; while dialogue is definitely important, sometimes it's a person's actions or lack of action that speak louder. There were some stretches that I found a little harder to focus on than others, but just as I would wane interest, something would happen that would pull me right back in. I can’t help but assume that this was intentional and, I think, was done to perfection.

The mood of the film was so intentional. If you can overcome the silence, you will most definitely appreciate the director's vision and the journey you’re taking on. I didn’t immediately understand the enjoyment of the film, but what it lacked there, it made up for in strides with the fact that it will stick with me like a piece of art for years to come.

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