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Session 15: Recent cinema from China (Hong Kong): 2046 — first of three sessions
Topics for this session
❖ Recent cinema from China (Hong Kong): 2046
Overall, persistent topics for this film:
- Characteristics, qualities, methods, completedness and reliability of communication between lovers
- Layering: role of memories in romance
- Layering: blending of boundaries of individuals (status of individual)
- Layering: Non-linearity (narrative structure, experience of the presence as tied to the past and future, especially the past—memories).
- Comparisons: Dreams in 2046 and Genji.
- Comparisons: Money in 2046 and Story of the Stone.
Possible topics for this session:
- Sound as context
- Comparisons: longing in Genji, 2046 and Flying Daggers
Thoughts*
This film requires good preparation. Arrive well-informed.
In House of Flying Daggers, it seems the outside forces keep the lovers apart, whether you think that is the political situation, Leo's personal actions or Mei's choice to pull the dagger from her chest (on purpose or in error?). In 2046, it seems that individuals themselves are what is preventing love. Like The Tale of Genji everyone is longing for someone and everyone seems to be adrift on an ocean of fate and in that sense the mood is similar. But in Genji, lovers long for more time together because they are, in fact, sometimes together physically and spiritually. In 2046 lovers seem apart even when together physically. This, to me, seems "modern". 2046 explore the contradiction of longing but not wanting, for whatever reason, to become intimate.
Reminder that our many discussions done in conjunction with the films are meant to be start points not conclusive positions on the topic whatever it is. However, over the course of the term, some of these discussions begin to resonate with one another. I encourage you to take one or two of these topics of particular interest to you farther, when exploring your films or just thinking about the class.
Is love a journey forwards or a journey backwards?
External / internal: House of Flying Daggers has external reference points that situate the story in a specific situation. In contrast, 2046 has internal, subjective reference points that drift about in a real world that seems less important than the emotional state of the characters. (These types of films, it seems to me, often have a sensual and/or transgressive feel to them.) Whether the narrative is grounded in external or internal reference points creates entirely different romantic story lines that could be said simply as: romance with a public goal (marriage/status) and romance with an internal goal (solving emotional issues).
Access details
Although your team has probably already solved access issues, the movie is available as follows:
- Netflix: DVD
- Media Resources Center (Moffitt): DVD 4876
Required—to be completed for today's session
Access through sidebar tab FILM MODULES:
✓ 2046: General Comments
✓ 2046: Director
✓ 2046: Main Characters
✓ 2046: First session questions and Scene 1 summary (other scene summaries optional)
(✓) 2046: Release data (optional)
*UNDER CONSTRUCTION: If this has not been erased it means something on this page is incomplete. Perhaps I want to recheck information or perhaps I haven't converted the page from the version of the previous class. It is available but should be taken dubiously.
*THOUGHTS: My hope is that you look at this portion BEFORE a session. If there is content here it might help you focus on the main points of the day. However, I add various things here at various times. When I feel I haven't succeeded in class stating something clearly, I might restate it here. Of if it is a difficult concept in might be given in written form here. I will assume that you have read and rechecked for changes this session in preparation for any midterm or other quiz or test.