'Platform' and 'Unknown Pleasures' -- What's the Dealiyo-yo?

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Spin-off from the VV poll thread. These two films by [insert name] are hott on both sides of the Atlantic (not so much in China, where they're banned). 'Platform' is the tale of some bored teens in provincial China in the 80s. I haven't seen 'Unknown Pleasures' because 'Platform' was really amazingly boring, and I'm no slouch when it comes to watching boring films.

But I must be missing something cos lots of critics I respect dug these movies. But none of them have said why (J. Hoberman's piece on 'Platform' was incrdibly short and non-specific). Either it's a conspiracy or... or... help me love these films.

― Enrique (Enrique), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 13:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd love to, but all the praise in the world hasn't brought the films to Minneapolis, to my knowledge. I've pre-ordered the Unknown Pleasures DVD, so I'll come back when that arrives.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 14:11 (twenty-two years ago)

they are by jia zhang ke. jia is his family name.

i adore platform, unknown pleasures less, but i need to see it again. i've seen platform twice, in the slightly shorter version prepared by the director after its festival screenings. so far as i know the longer version--which has a completely different ending which departs from the established reality of the film--has only shown once or twice in the states, in new york. i don't believe this longer version is on dvd. i think the ending of the shorter version is a really powerful thing, especially with the sound that continues over the fadeout. i don't want to explain more and ruin it.

his first film, xiao wu, is great as well, and has one utterly remarkable scene

spoilers

where the pickpocket is handcuffed to a pole and lots of passerbys stop by to gawk at him

― amateur!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 16:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought Unknown Pleasures was deathly dull too, though it may have suffered from Renoir syndrome where anything that hasn't got fifteen explosions a second* when viewed at the Renoir cinema sends me to sleep. I can barely remember what happens in it now, which given my powers of total recall suggest that the films are either meditations on boredom or.... Oddly whenever I think of it I come up with Noi Albinoi (for no good reason), does Unknown Pleasures have a failed bank robbery in it as well.

Oh, Unknown Pleasures has that one memorable sequence on the really long unfinished road when it is raining. Er. That's it.

*Since it is owned and programmed by Artificial Eye this is unlikely.

― Pete (Pete), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 16:39 (twenty-two years ago)

its funny when i think i'm being bored by a movie but i can recall almost all of it months or even years later

that's what happened with unknown pleasures for me

― amateur!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 16:42 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't want to explain more and ruin it.

oh go on! i need it explained. in fairness i can't remember much beyond the locations. i will rent 'unknown pleasures' (b/w 'pickpocket' in the uk) but aarrghhh no-one has said what's good about 'em yet!!

― Enrique (Enrique), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 17:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't you guys go start making me doubt my blind purchases! Next you're going to tell me there's nothing good about Werckmeister Harmonies.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 19:54 (twenty-two years ago)

i cant tell somebody else why they SHOULD like something really...just watch it again i guess, platform that is

― amateur!st (amateurist), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:47 (twenty-two years ago)

oh, i wdn't mind if you did! if you're familiar with tim westwood, the kind of critic i like shouts 'you NEED this in your life'. also, it's well long. if i dislike it twice that's six hours. if you tell me why i might/should like it, i'll know what to look for, so to speak, next time round.

― Enrique (Enrique), Thursday, 15 January 2004 14:05 (twenty-two years ago)

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