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Cast:
Karena
Lam
Liu
Ye
Ekin
Cheng
Su
Jin
Huang
Jue
Writer:
Carol
Lai
Producer:
Stanley
Kwan
Arthur
Wong
Director:
Carol
Lai
Score:
 
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THE
FLOATING LANDSCAPE
AKA:
N/A
Year:
2003 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
After
the death of her beloved boyfriend Sam (Cheng), Maan (Karena
Lam) decides to travel back to his childhood haunts of
Quingdao to find a particular landscape that he'd often
described. Maan stays with one of Sam's relatives and, in the
moments she isn't looking for the fabled scenery, tries to
cope with her torturous feelings of bereavement. While her
quest continues and her loneliness increases, a local postman,
Lit (Liu Ye), decides to champion her cause and help her find
the place of Sam's memories. Though their search initially proves to be fruitless, both Maan and Lit are at least pleased
that they have someone who cares about them. When Lit's
feelings begin to turn from friendship to love though, Maan is
stuck between her deep feelings for her late boyfriend and her
growing affection for the compassionate stranger.
Many
films have tackled the thorny subject of bereavement, but few
have managed to tread the thin line between emotion and
histrionics successfully. Whereas films like 'Three Colours:
Blue' have looked at the topic pragmatically (though in this
reviewer's opinion, it was a far from satisfying meditation on
it), Carol Lai's 'The Floating Landscape' mixes the
mundane with the ethereal. While Lai grounds the story in
reality and anchors her characters to a very stark
environment, she also attempts to create an enigmatic
atmosphere that lingers in her viewers' minds. The result of
her efforts is a minor masterpiece.
Carol
Lai had impressed audiences previously with 'Glass Tears';
'The Floating Landscape' marks another massive leap in her
development as a significant film-maker. The storyline could
so easily have been caught up in the obvious feelings of a
subject that many can relate to, but it refuses to rely on the
explosive emotional moments that lesser films would have
favoured. However, the real triumph of Lai's work is that,
even though 'The Floating Landscape' is an 'arthouse'
production, it never lets an obsession with style become its
preoccupation. Indeed, the finished production is by turns
powerful, tragic and optimistic - a feat that few have
achieved in this minefield situation. While the moments of
grief shown by Maan are heart-breaking and are potent enough
to induce a feeling of empathy from the viewer, the subtle way
it constructs the characters' relationships is a wonderful
testament to its success.
The
performances of Karena Lam and Liu Ye are exceptional enough
to pull off all of the conflicting emotions of the characters
while always remaining completely believable. Lam, a relative
fledgling in movie terms, gives Maan a mixture of searing
vulnerability and determined strength, two qualities which
make her character so appealing. Some of her non-dialogue
scenes - especially her attempt on her own life - are
virtually unparalleled in their soul-stirring magnetism. It's
hoped that an actress as promising as Karena continues to get
roles like this to stretch her thespian trade. Meanwhile Liu
Ye, who'd already impressed me in the sublime 'Postmen In The
Mountains', is given a challenging character, yet pulls off
the complexities with relative ease. Though Lit harbours
feelings for Maan, Liu Ye portrays a man who is torn between
his growing love and his own good nature. With two characters
like these played by two actors of definite merit, it's little
wonder that 'The Floating Landscape' is a work of such merit.
Rounding off the acting honours is Ekin Cheng whose brief
appearances in the flashback scenes is very touching.
'The
Floating Landscape' makes ample use of the haunting, yet
strangely beautiful surroundings. Veteran cinematographer
Arthur Wong, who has worked on everything from '36th
Chamber Of Shaolin' to 'The
Medallion', utilises painstaking close-ups and delicate
use of steadycam to cement the subtle messages of the story.
Alongside the symbolism of the Carol Lai's visuals is Yeung
Tong-Lung and Jimmy Liao's magical animation which
lovingly closes the film. With plaudits earned by each and
every department, it goes without saying that this is a work
of art. Slow-moving, yet deeply effecting, 'The Floating
Landscape' is undoubtedly one of the best films of 2003.
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