The Wayward Cloud (traditional Chinese: 天邊一朵雲; pinyin: Tianbian yiduoyun) // Tsai Ming-liang

I eventually watched The Wayward Cloud by Tsai Ming Liang, and was quite surprised by it. Although I knew that that the plot is founded between a water shortage crisis (again a popular theme of Tsai's - and reminiscent of Sontag's Illness as Metaphor theory) in Taiwan and a couple who are at the beginning of their courting phase (and un-beknown to her - until the final scene - he works as a porn-star), but I have to admit I was shocked by how explicit the film really goes. [This was probably rather exaggerated as I watched the film with my Mum, cue a lot of awkward squirming and blushing....]

I'm not really sure of where it leaves you, the viewer, positioned at the end of it. But I suppose that this is a common feature of Tsai Ming-Liang's films (to mention The River et al). In the last scene, our female protagonist (Shiang-Chyi) uncovers the truth, as she nearly walks into the porn set, while her 'man' (Hsiao-Kang) is having arduous sex with an un-concious / dead (we're not entirely sure) woman. Shiang-Chyi becomes the voyeur through the window, Hsiao-Kang sees her and then holding eye contact with her, starts really fucking the limp body (obviously - he's really fucking Shiang-Chyi)... it seems to me that Shiang-Chyi is enjoying this experience - but them just as Hsiao-Kang is about to ejaculate he jumps up - and shoves his dick down Shiang-Chyi's mouth. She chokes and gags a little bit - but doesn't move away.

So where does this leave us as the viewer? Especially as a female viewer? Thinking out loud and with Sontag's theory in mind: Is porn the illness, and is the water shortage causing this 'disease'? Is Tsai saying that pornography is a 'disease'? (N.B. porn as 'disease' is not my sentiment)

What does interest me, is that this film is largely considered a 'fun' film. Of course it is, but I think that people concentrate on Tsai's usual campy interlude's (a couple of which I have posted here). Sure, I will be the first to admit - that these clips are composed incredibly, in terms of cinematography / music etc - and really are an excellent and integral part to the film. I think without which, the film would become far too self-serious and would probably leave the viewer quite disturbed (if it only consisted on Tsai's long shots and unsettling scene's such as the one mentioned). But in my opinion, people have a habit of focusing largely on these scenes and 'forgetting' the real dark message which lurks beneath.

Tsai Ming-Liang really has pushed the boundaries with The Wayward Cloud and subsequently has produced a film which opens up a huge dialogue. It is a film which should be watched by all, as it really is fantastic and in places fantastical....




The last youtube that I have posted here may not want to be watched by people who are easily offended by sexuality....