Sunday, April 09, 2006

Watched quite a few shows today, so quite happy lah, but head also a little heavy now ...

My first SIFF Fringe film was Gimi from India. It was a very interesting film in that the biggest feature was the use of sound to propel the film forward. Through the ears of the boy, the sound of the grinding machine, from the initial source of pride, income and joy, later became nothing but noise, irritation, and subsequently desperation and hatred. Very interesting indeed.

Once again, thanks to Phillip Cheah for an excellent film.

Halfway through Terlena - Breaking of a Nation, which was a documentary about the political turmoil in Indonesia in 1965 and 1966, Liz messaged to ask if I wanted to watch the Producers with her.

I have wanted to watch the Producers for a very long time. A very irrelevant original from Mel Brooks, plus an odd but excellent couple in Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, and campy Will Ferrel and over the top Uma Thurman. Might this be better than RENT, for me? Well it did actually. I laughed quite a bit throughout the film, which is saying a lot indeed. The four actors did a very credible job. There was never a dull moment in the film. And thank goodness there was no hit tune to stick in your head after watching. The creation of the musical was the highlight for me, and watching the eventual staging, I would have sat through the show, but I believe most people would walk out of it too ... something puzzled me though. If Nathan Lane, the producer, have been making one awful show after another, how did he get a full audience to watch his latest show? Hmmm ...

No time to waste, have to get to the Substation to support Donna and her Etymologies.

A show with precious little to "see", with mostly audio soundscapes, then to put this audience to sleep ... during his 15 minutes or so of subconcioueness, he sees the world passing by, and also a cold sweat or two of forgotten promises passing by, and also people who still owes him money ... but once his senses return to him, the hanging paintings begin to make sense, like buildings fading away, like being in a courtyard surrounded by majestic and ancient building, such as temples and pagodas, like being in caves. So I was not too far off from the correct answer. And the torchlights, they play tricks on your eyes, seducing you to imagine that the lights are getting dimmer and dimmer, as the batteries are running flat. And when the torchlights suddenly move, it felt like the buildings or caves are shaking. How interesting what the tired mind is telling you. And being near the speaker that is making all the alternative noises, all the low bass droning, makes me hungry towards the end of the show.

Now to look for something to bite now ...

♥ 12:29 am