Movielogr
The Wayward Cloud (2005)
Directed by Tsai Ming-liang
Twitter Facebook Google+Overview
Hsiao-Kang, now working as an adult movie actor, meets Shiang-chyi once again. Meanwhile, the city of Taipei faces a water shortage that makes the sales of watermelons skyrocket.
Length 114 minutes
Actors
Lee Kang-Sheng | Chen Shiang-Chyi | Lu Yi-Ching | Yang Kuei-Mei | Sumomo Yozakura | Lam Fai-Kan | Siu Wun-Man | Rao Guo-Xuan | Huan-Wen Hsiao | Hui-Xun Lin | Kuo-Xuan Jao | David Yang | Huan-Wen Wu | Yu-Wei Chang | Xun-You Chou | Tian-Fu Hsu | Lee-Hsing Huang
Viewing History (seen 2 times)
| Date Viewed | Device | Format | Source | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/16/2020 | Movie Screen | Film | Theater | 7.5 stars |
| 08/31/2012 | TV | Streaming | Video on Demand | 7 stars |
| (Average) 7.25 stars |
Viewing Notes
Today I cruised down to Doc Films to view my first film in the Rebels of the Neon Screen: A Tsai Ming-Liang Retrospective program, which started in January. The initial films in the series are available via streaming or at my library so I decided to skip the hour+ drive and catch those on my own time. However, today THE WAYWARD CLOUD was scheduled and that’s not readily available (altho it may be in the Strand Releasing channel but that’s another subscription cost). I did see this movie a few years ago via Netflix instawatch and could not recall anything about it other than I enjoyed it (according to my notes). When I saw it in the program it didn’t ring a bell then I saw that I had logged it here. Anyways, this seemed like a film worth making the trip plus it was a 35mm print from Taiwan.
We got a really cool introduction by Jennifer Dorothy Lee that got me really amped to see the film. Before this feature started we were treated to the short film THE SKYWALK IS GONE and I was baffled as to why since it’s actually on the program for next week. But I was happy nevertheless to get a bonus film and in 35mm. Then after The Wayward Cloud got going it dawned on me that SKYWALK IS GONE is basically a prequel to this film that introduces the two main characters before they meet. Really cool to make that connection even if that wasn’t necessarily the intent when they made the short.
This movie takes those two characters on a wild ride in what could be described as a dark comedy / complicated romance / indictment of the exploitative and abusive nature of the porn industry with colorful musical numbers sprinkled throughout. It’s one of kind and completely unique. Not the easiest film to watch as it’s very explicit and unsettling at times (we had a few walkouts and one young woman was visibly distressed after the film was over).
The narrative mainly deals with the two aforementioned characters portrayed by Chen Shiang-Chyi and Lee Kang-Sheng, reprising their roles from SKYWALK IS GONE, still dealing w/the water shortage in Taipei and the surplus of watermelons. She (Shiang-Chyi) is loner and he (Kang-Sheng) is a porn actor. They begin an innocent relationship that gets more intimate as they grow closer. There’s a scene in the porn section of video store that may be one of the most romantic/hot scenes of 21st century cinema. The musical performances work like dividers of their story presenting another step towards embracing each other. It’s also very interesting that no dialogue is spoken between them after their first encounter. I didn’t notice this initially but at some point it dawned on me that there is very little dialogue in this movie. Then these big bursts of song and dance occur to break through the quiet.
While not a movie I’d revisit often it is quite special and deserves an updated/restored release. I’d love to read / hear about the story of making this movie and how it all came to be and its ties to THE SKYWALK IS GONE.
It’s crazy that Netflix once carried this title! I miss when they had a more eclectic variety.
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