Comments on: La double vie de Xinhua http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/04/24/la-double-vie-de-xinhua/ China and Other things Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:18:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: du yisa http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/04/24/la-double-vie-de-xinhua/#comment-7917 du yisa Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:29:22 +0000 http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/04/24/la-double-vie-de-xinhua/#comment-7917 Just wanted to mention that the Kieslowski film you reference in your title is one of my all time favorites. I've never seen a better investigation of the difference between being lost and not. The film is beautiful, touching, and very very smart. If you liked it, watch 'Close-Up' by Kiarostami. What's the connection? Briefly, if you recall how the puppeteer seduces Veronique, it's through the allure of surfaces, suggestions. After they meet, when she dumps the contents of her bag on the bed, it shows she has made everything inside her available - at least as far as she is able. However, he is preoccupied with the idea of what he is doing rather than actually attempting to connect with her. That's why she leaves and goes home to touch the trees she grew up with. She got herself lost, and needs to re-establish herself with her genuine connections. Close-Up also raises the issue of form vs content (if you will). An impersonator attempts to seduce a family into believing he is someone famous. Kiarostami uses a re-enactment of this situation to investigate the meaning of cinema, the stories we tell ourselves and others, and their relationship to our dreams and desires. The impersonator tries to seduce the family to believe him because he's so attracted by his own idea - just like the puppeteer, only in this case he is manipulating others to lose himself (actually, one could argue this is true of the seducer in both movies) - and the ending is also about what is necessary to establish genuine connections with both others and oneself, but I won't spoil it if you haven't seen it. That was an extremely hackneyed description of both movies, but I hope it was interesting. Cheers Just wanted to mention that the Kieslowski film you reference in your title is one of my all time favorites. I’ve never seen a better investigation of the difference between being lost and not. The film is beautiful, touching, and very very smart. If you liked it, watch ‘Close-Up’ by Kiarostami.

What’s the connection? Briefly, if you recall how the puppeteer seduces Veronique, it’s through the allure of surfaces, suggestions. After they meet, when she dumps the contents of her bag on the bed, it shows she has made everything inside her available - at least as far as she is able. However, he is preoccupied with the idea of what he is doing rather than actually attempting to connect with her. That’s why she leaves and goes home to touch the trees she grew up with. She got herself lost, and needs to re-establish herself with her genuine connections.

Close-Up also raises the issue of form vs content (if you will). An impersonator attempts to seduce a family into believing he is someone famous. Kiarostami uses a re-enactment of this situation to investigate the meaning of cinema, the stories we tell ourselves and others, and their relationship to our dreams and desires. The impersonator tries to seduce the family to believe him because he’s so attracted by his own idea - just like the puppeteer, only in this case he is manipulating others to lose himself (actually, one could argue this is true of the seducer in both movies) - and the ending is also about what is necessary to establish genuine connections with both others and oneself, but I won’t spoil it if you haven’t seen it.

That was an extremely hackneyed description of both movies, but I hope it was interesting.

Cheers

]]> By: rob http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/04/24/la-double-vie-de-xinhua/#comment-7668 rob Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:40:35 +0000 http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/04/24/la-double-vie-de-xinhua/#comment-7668 Sorry Nan, I've removed the links to your blog in that last comment. I had actually put you on a blocked list but since you're the only person who has ever earned this distinction here (and probably the only person who ever will) I didn't do it properly. But you are banned now. The deciding factor was the new title of your blog. Sorry Nan, I’ve removed the links to your blog in that last comment. I had actually put you on a blocked list but since you’re the only person who has ever earned this distinction here (and probably the only person who ever will) I didn’t do it properly. But you are banned now. The deciding factor was the new title of your blog.

]]> By: nanheyangrouchuan http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/04/24/la-double-vie-de-xinhua/#comment-7523 nanheyangrouchuan Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:49:50 +0000 http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/04/24/la-double-vie-de-xinhua/#comment-7523 Why are there no protests outside of Bausch & Lomb, Areva, Total, Renault and Suez? Because those companies are associated with high technology, advanced manufacturing and modern management methods and so are necessary for China's development. So they stay protected, Carrefour is just a department store. And here is more of "bad China"! It's time for "Shark awareness week"! [link deleted] Why are there no protests outside of Bausch & Lomb, Areva, Total, Renault and Suez?
Because those companies are associated with high technology, advanced manufacturing and modern management methods and so are necessary for China’s development. So they stay protected, Carrefour is just a department store.

And here is more of “bad China”!

It’s time for “Shark awareness week”!

[link deleted]

]]> By: kailing http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/04/24/la-double-vie-de-xinhua/#comment-7521 kailing Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:22:04 +0000 http://www.blackandwhitecat.org/2008/04/24/la-double-vie-de-xinhua/#comment-7521 The Italians say it very clear: Traduttore, traditore Translator, traitor The Italians say it very clear:

Traduttore, traditore
Translator, traitor

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