Tsai Ming-Liang's WHAT TIME IS IT THERE? closes out exciting film series

WHAT TIME IS IT THERE? (Tsai Ming-Liang, 2001)
Asia Society
725 Park Ave. at 70th St.
www.asiasociety.org/facesoftsai

Malaysian-born Taiwanese filmmaker Tsai Ming-Liang’s WHAT TIME IS IT THERE? is one heck of an existential hoot. When his father dies, Hsiao Kang, who sells watches on the street in Taipei, becomes obsessed with a strange woman who insists on buying Hsiao’s own watch and then leaves for Paris; with Truffaut’s THE 400 BLOWS (Tsai’s “all-time favorite film”); with urinating in whatever is near his bed instead of going to the bathroom; and with changing clocks to Paris time. Meanwhile, his mother is determined to follow ridiculous rituals to bring her husband back, and the woman in Paris goes through a number of bizarre events as well. There is not a single camera movement in the film (except for in the 400 BLOWS film clips); the scenes are shot by Benoît Delhomme in long takes, often lingering before and after any action – when there is any action. The dialogue is spare, ironic, and hysterical. If you like your movies straightforward and linear, then this is not for you. But we loved this riot of a film, so we suggest you give it a shot. And yes, that person sitting on the bench in the cemetery is exactly who you think it is.

tsai Ming-Liang will speak at the Asia Society after premiere screening of his latest film, FACE

WHAT TIME IS IT THERE?, which screens on November 21 at 5:00, closes out the Faces of Tsai Ming-Liang series, being presented jointly by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office and the Asia Society. The exciting series kicks off November 13 at 6:45 with Tsai’s 1992 debut, REBELS OF THE NEON GOD, and includes a free screening of his latest, the much-talked-about FACE, on November 15 at 2:00, followed by a short Q&A with the director as well as actor Lee Kang-Sheng. Tsai and Lee will also participate in a highly anticipated conversation on Sunday at 5:15. VIVE L’AMOUR plays on November 17 at 6:45, with the surreal THE HOLE scheduled for November 21 at 3:00. Tsai is a quirky, wholly original filmmaker who deserves to be more well known here in the States, so don’t miss this rare, special opportunity to catch up with what much of the rest of the world already knows.