Hoezo in KINO

Edward Yang’s last film Yi Yi (he passed away in 2007) is considered his magnum opus. A Brighter Summer Day (we still owe you this one) is another remarkable film, however Yi Yi might be considered more accessible for Western audiences. We follow the Jian family’s individual lives, over the course of a year. The opening scene is set at a wedding and the film concludes with a funeral, symbolizing the cycle of life. The film’s storytelling approach doesn’t rely on dramatic plot twists. Instead, it mirrors real life, capturing ordinary moments we all might experience in our lives. Visually, Yang uses long takes and distant shots, deliberately avoiding close-ups and yet this film feels very intimate. This technique invites viewers to become conscious observers and enables us to focus on every detail within the scenes. Yang’s swang song won him the best director prize at the Cannes film festival of 2000. Note: this film will be screened with a 20 minute intermission.