MOLINA, RAFAEL on mon 25 jun 01
Clayarters:
This past Saturday evening I had the pleasure of seeing the new film "The
Road Home" starring Zhang Ziyi of "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" fame and
directed by Zhang Yimou whom some of you may know from his previous films
including "Not One Less" and "Raise the Red Lantern."
After dinner at Gloria's (great Salvadoran food i.e. tamal, plaintain,
pupusa, black beans) on lower Greenville, my girlfriend and I headed over to
the Regent in Highland Park Village which along with the Inwood Theatre are
the only "art house" theatres in town. We went to see the film after reading
the positive reviews and because we are both fans of Zhang Ziyi.
The film is set in China. I found the alternation from present day to
flashback to the 1950's era with a denouement back in the present day to be
a clever plot device as well as the accompanying transition of black and
white to color film stock. The final montage of images is lovely.
To my delight there was a bit of pottery in the film. A blue on white bowl
plays a small but interesting part in the film. There is also a character
whom I can only describe as an itinerant pottery repairman who has a bit
part in the film. I was intrigued that a fired ceramic object could be
repaired at all much less in the way that it was "mended" in the film.
"The Road Home" is one of the most beautiful love stories I've seen on film
and it is accomplished without showing or even suggesting a hug, a kiss or
more intimate relations onscreen. If you get a chance, go see it. I give it
two thumbs up.
Chao,
Rafael
Rafael Molina, MFA
Assistant Professor of Art
Department of Music, Art, and Dance
Tarrant County College-Southeast Campus
2100 Southeast Parkway
Arlington, TX 76018-3144
(817) 515-3711
(817) 515-3189 fax
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