4:30
Edwin wrote lotsa stuff about it already in his blog. But nonetheless.
I found 4:30 a lil too draggy. Cuz it doesn't have to be so draggy to bring the point across. Then again, it gives this feeling of dread, which is prolly what xiao wu experiences in his life. Hmmm, only have a few stuff to talk about, being a newbie in film studies.
The theme of
loneliness runs strongly in the film. Xiao wu felt neglected because his mum's overseas and the unexplained absence of his dad. Jung's breakup with his gf.
Fusion of the two characters Jung and xiao wu. One scene tells the story by showing xiao wu's reflection on a mirror. Then another shows Jung's relfection on glass. Xiao wu has a small shelf of cough syrups while Jung has a small shelf of pills. At the scene where Jung and xiao wu sat down on the stairs, both were wearing shorts/boxers and singlets. Both of them listen repeatedly to sad suicidal music. Jung seems to be a bigger version of xiao wu. Prolly why xiao wu feels comfortable with him and becomes fascinated/obsessed with him. As the movie progresses, Jung starts to drink orange juice (what xiao wu likes) and xiao wu starts eating korean beef noodles (and actually chooses to buy beef noodles instead of orange juice, suggesting xiao wu modelling after Jung). Jung also allowed himself to listen to xiao wu's version of sad music, though he don't understand what the song is about.
Xiao wu sees Jung as his
father, as seen by his composition. Jung is his 'role-model' as well. He imitates Jung, by wearing his boxers, and putting on shaving cream. His longing for a fatherly figure, a play mate and a confidant is revealed by how xiao wu attempts to interact with Jung.
Somewhat strangely, xiao wu encourages Jung to live on by cutting off his cigarettes and pasting Jung's face on the cigarette box. Being someone who doesn't cherish his life, xiao wu encourages Jung prolly cuz he sees Jung as the future him, and as such, he hopes that Jung can live on, and be happy.
The usage of mirrors, reflections. As written above, there was scenes of both Jung and xiao wu captured through reflections. Reflections suggests
virtuality, that they aren't exactly existing or living. Though they may be still breathing and walking, they live as though they're dead. Xiao wu doesn't cherish his life and Jung is constantly trying to commit suicide. The theme of virtuality emerges again at the end, when xiao wu paints his windows black, similar to his 'dreams', or the lack of it. By doing so he is retreating back to live a life of one long dreamless sleep.
Related to virtuality is also escapism and fantasy through pills and cough syrups.
Intertextuality. Cant rmb the details of
12 storeys cuz I watched it in pri sch i think. But cant analyse properly without the films. Was pondering about why xiao wu chose to dub the women's voice. Read edwin's interpretation of it and I sorta agree.
Cant really think of what else to write. The film is starting to fade from my memory already. Hmmm. Oh! I bought
Royston's shorts le. A collection of royston tan's short films. Sadly
15 is not a short film and is not included.
