jan25 to feb28 2024
누구 없나요
Here’s what I watched this past month! Going to skip the life update cause it has been pretty similar thus far. The application folder grows but so does my resolve, of course aided by the countless advice I’ve been getting. I do have a new favourite cooking personality that I want to shout out before getting into the proceedings. Aside from the sometimes mindless batch meal prep, occasionally making a 1-2 meal recipe that requires some finesse always picks me up. The two recipes I’ve tried from George’s channel have been amazing. He used to make this Japanese mushroom pasta for himself when he first started out in kitchens. It’s deceptively simple, flavours definitely punching above its weight and teased out by his technique.
You know the drill if you’ve read one of these before. 5 random picks, this month (and some change) I have hit 30 films.
Like You Know It All – Hong Sang Soo (2009)
Hong's films are often elliptical, more about teasing little strokes of humanity within the mundane. This is then coloured through Hong's lived experience, creating stories that forefront struggling artists that deal with problems many don't care to think about. At least this has been my experience thus far.
Six films deep, this one hit a bit more resonance for me (the others being On the Occasion of Remembering the Turning Gate, The Woman Who Ran, Introduction, The Novelist's Film and Walk Up).
Interactions within the film festival and the university felt too familiar. With each character passing by, instances of my past were conjured up – thankfully none as scathing. His most self-reflexive and also the middle point out of the six I've seen. The pans and zooms used in this have been my favourite thus far.
Mundane History – Anocha Suwichakornpong (2009)
The previous night after its exploration into the cosmos, I remember closing my eyes and falling into a deep slumber. I was plainly just tired. In the now bright apartment as the credits roll, I too am stumbling out into a new day with that Furniture song seared into my brain.
Anocha explores existence, from day-to-day mundanity with its host of private stresses and external reactions to the absurdity of simply being here in the first place. It gave me further contemplations on fleeting memories of my birthplace (PH), where that has informed me in my home (SG) and the often lost state I'm currently in (AU).
Anocha does not shatter the form here, she gently molds it, nothing feeling forced. Desperately need to see this on the big screen.
Welcome Home – Makoto Shinozaki (1995)
The two leads here exhibit a tenderness that reaches far beyond the budget restrictions of the picture. With scenes often shot on one camera, both Susumu Terajima and Miho Uemura portray domestic life with shocking vulnerability.
Having seen the former in works of Takeshi Kitano, it was refreshing to see this side of Terajima's range – an effortless turn of grace. As her only onscreen role, the stillness that Miho Uemura carries is a profound juxtaposition of the turbulence stirring beneath.
The final section where both characters give in to each other's care – finally stretching over the boundaries of an initial pleasantry shared. おかえり, Okaeri, Welcome Home.
Scavengers Reign – Joseph Bennett and Charles Huettner (2023)
Binged the the last five episodes of this till 5am the next morning. Discovering the world through its relationship between environment and humans, the flora and fauna unfold in tranquility while always leaving one second guessing about anything's true nature. It expands on what the short promised, along with deeply human characters at its core.
While being the most unforgivable of the group, I wished for more Kamen exploration which might come about if a season two is on the horizon. The rest of the principal cast was stellar but there were definitely moments where line deliveries felt awkward. This gripe fell by the wayside quickly though, I too would be pretty helpless in this world.
Classical Period – Ted Fendt (2018)
I'm certain that this would have affected me far more if I watched this in the cinema. This is my second Fendt, after his more recent Outside Noise, which I recall enjoying due to its meandering nature and medium of shooting. In this film, the warmness of the medium once again invited me in – its content however not as resonant.
After a while, a lot of the dialogue here started to wash over me and my eyes wandered elsewhere. Not due to my lack of interest or the stilted nature of these "performances", it was more a case of a cosy ambience as I thought about other things going on in my life.
I just realised why I feel this way. It recalls my visit to my partner's linguistic department in Stanford. At first, I felt isolated due to my lack of context to anything. Slowly though it became kind of comforting, I would love to hang out with them soon.
I’ll be back in Singapore from 18-28 March, hope to hang out with family and see friends. My apartment lease here in Melbourne ends in May. Depending on how the next 2-3 months go, I might find myself moving back home. I shall see what comes, and I will flow along accordingly. Thank you for reading or consenting to these entering your inboxes, all 20 of you. To the 6-7 of you who are from Melbourne, please hit me up if any opportunities come to mind.
edit: just realised this is also my 20th article, how quaint.
The good news is that this past month has been pretty good for new films discovered. A couple of my favourites were not randomly picked for this article. If you wanna read any of those, this goes straight to the diary.
Here are 25 songs I’ve been spinning a lot. Track number 1 by Ejae (BeautyHandsome, numnum) has had me completely transfixed this past week.
Especially accompanied with its music video. Tickles the hypnagogic itch. The lyrics are especially devastating, sometimes relatable. Is there anyone?
Anyhow, hope to see ya’ll on the next 29th of February.