Good Medicine by Way of Paris and Taiwan: Thank You, Hou Hsiao-Hsien!

Last updated on: March 14, 2013 at 1:35 pm by Jeffrey Overstreet

Good Medicine by Way of Paris and Taiwan: Thank You, Hou Hsiao-Hsien! 2013-03-14T13:35:57-06:00 Jeffrey Overstreet

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I may have the flu, I may have a voice like a gravel-crusher and a fever of 101, but I’m still here, propped up in bed editing Cyndere’s Midnight.

It may have had something to do with my diet of aspirin, soup, hot tea, cough medicine, whisky, and Airborne, but I was hypnotized and delighted by Flight of the Red Balloon, the new film by Hou Hsiao-Hsien, which I watched while slumped on the couch yesterday afternoon. It’s one of the most visually inventive films I’ve ever seen, reminding me of the best light ever captured by Krzysztof Kieslowski.

And at the center, there’s Juliette Binoche, my favorite actress for almost two decades now, in a dazzling performance, one of her very best, which she gives while caught up in a tempest of a blonde hairdo that has to be seen to be believed. (It’s strange to see her blonde, since I imagined a “blonde Juliette Binoche” when I wrote about Cyndere in my new story. That’s what I told the cover artist for the book, although I don’t think you’ll see her face in the finished image….)

It also features one of the most effortless, convincing, natural performances by a child actor I’ve ever seen: Simon Iteanu is quite a discovery.

Hou pays obvious tribute to the 1956 film The Red Balloon, but there were nods to other films all the way through. I couldn’t help but notice that the film seems just as drawn to images of streetcars and train tracks as Hou’s own Cafe Lumiere (which was his only other film made away from home, in Tokyo).

There were even some very subtle visual jokes (either intentional or brilliantly accidental) referring to other films. For example, in the opening shot, a subway advertisement for Severance is visible, the title neatly “severed” by a lamp post… and the scene quickly wanders to follow a red balloon, the tether of which has been cut. Two jokes in one shot. Intentional?

After we pick up on the film’s vibe — following the fragile innocence and sense of wonder in a child, as he wanders through a complex adult world — a bus goes by advertising Children of Men, with Clive Owen’s face given prominence. That seemed too appropriate to be a mistake.

But that’s all in just the first few minutes.

Reading about the film, I¬†just learned that the end-credits song is a translation of a song made popular in China by the ex-wife of the late Edward Yang. That seems strangely appropriate, as young Simon Iteanu’s performance had me thinking about Yang-Yang from Edward Yang’s film Yi-Yi, in the way that he wanders with such innocence through a complex, intimidating adult world.

Already, I have two strong candidates for my favorite film of 2008 (the other being Syndromes and a Century.) This one is superior, by far, in its visual wizardry. Hou’s mastery of light, reflection, and composition have me suspecting that he may surpass Kieslowski and Wong Kar Wai as my favorite image-maker for the screen.

One shot, looking out a subway window, gives us two sunsets: One in the far distance, bright and filling the sky, the other in miniature… a second reflection of that same sunset, coming in through the window, bouncing back off the far window, and appearing reflected on the very same window we’re looking through. It’s the kind of image that makes me want to stand up and applaud the way that crowds so mid-song if they hear a transporting guitar solo.

And Binoche is fantastic, of course. The first time we see her, it’s quite a shocking appearance. I’ll leave it at that. This movie allows her to play some notes we haven’t seen from her before.

Did I mention she’s gone blonde?

I’ll be reviewing this for Christianity Today Movies. But first, I’m going to watch it again. Feeling sicker than I have in years, I’m grateful that this film came along and made me forget my troubles for two beautiful hours.

Journal

Flight of the Red Balloon

Hou Hsiao-Hsien

Previous Post

March 30, 2008

Buzz About This Album Began in 1994. On May 6, It's Here.

Next Post

April 2, 2008 The Browser, 4/1: Five favorite Peter Weir Films; Vega and Bird Blog

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Blog Bloggers on "Through a Screen Darkly" Browser Coming Soon Endorsements Fiction Books Film Forum Film Reviews Inspirations Interviews Journal Kindlings Muse Movie buzz Music Reviews Non-Fiction Books radio Reviewers on "Through a Screen Darkly" The Auralia Thread Through a Screen Darkly Through a Screen Darkly - Bonus Materials Top 10 (or 20 or 100) lists Uncategorized

Select a Month June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 July 2003 May 2003 March 2003 September 1999

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who is credited with writing much of Proverbs?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Solomon David Agur Hezekiah