from Film Forum, 02/10/05To escape torrential rain, a Japanese tourist ducks into a declining movie theater and waits out the storm while watching a classic martial arts film called Dragon Inn. There, the few who have gathered enjoy the final hours of this timeworn cinema, and share some meaningful encounters.
Goodbye, Dragon Inn, the latest film by the acclaimed Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-liang, is earning rave reviews from cinephiles and critics at festivals around the globe.
It also caught the attention of a Christian film critic recently. J. Robert Parks (The Phantom Tollbooth) joins the chorus of praise. "Tsai Ming-liang is known in film circles for his rigorous, slow, demanding works. Though he has a quirky brand of humor that shows up in movies like What Time Is It There? and The Hole, his films are challenging for audiences not used to his long takes. His latest work is a profound meditation on the reasons why we watch movies as well as a stirring defense of his own approach to cinema. It is certainly a slow, difficult work but one that richly rewards those who can appreciate Tsai's approach."
You'll find mainstream reviews of the film here.
