The ebbs and flows of a rather long, deliberately paced narrative can test most viewers. Especially difficult when it seems the movie’s central conflict doesn’t manifest in a few key sequences, instead building piece-by-piece over time, in small gestures. Those with a keen eye and ear, who are willing to soak in commentary on muted malaise of 21st-century youth, will find reward in Huang Ji and Ryûji Otsuka’s Stonewalling. Like the characters, it plays a waiting game: this film bets its outskirt sleepy venues will absorb viewers enough to find deeper meaning. Not only about the modern lives of China’s youth, but also the troubling economic and social inheritances that will come to the generations after.
The camera barely moves. Sequences of still shots play directly to a paced narrative hinging on tension of unmade decisions and half-taken next steps that embody the genuine aimlessness felt by its young protagonist.
The camera barely moves. Sequences of still shots play directly to a paced narrative hinging on tension of unmade decisions and half-taken next steps that embody the genuine aimlessness felt by its young protagonist.
- 10/18/2022
- by Soham Gadre
- The Film Stage
Real-life partners and filmmakers Huang Ji and Ryuji Otsukahave been riding the autumn film festival wave of Venice (Giornate degli Autori), Toronto’s TIFF and the upcoming NYFF and London BFI fests with Stonewalling and we now learn that the KimStim grabbed the title for what will likely be further film festival before a limited theatrical release. The film links to their previous work and provides a fresh look into the Chinese economy by way of the Generation Z.
In China’s gig economy, bodies are currency. This is certainly the experience of 20-year-old Lynn (Honggui Yao) who is browbeaten by her boyfriend to improve her marketability with English classes, but who takes one-off gigs dressing as a princess at a jewellery store promotion and is tempted by the lucrative possibilities of selling her eggs.…...
In China’s gig economy, bodies are currency. This is certainly the experience of 20-year-old Lynn (Honggui Yao) who is browbeaten by her boyfriend to improve her marketability with English classes, but who takes one-off gigs dressing as a princess at a jewellery store promotion and is tempted by the lucrative possibilities of selling her eggs.…...
- 9/27/2022
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
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