THEIR REMAINING JOURNEY (2018)
Genre: Art
Director: John Clang
Cast: Beon Kan, Boon Hock Lim, Doreen Toh, Joavien Ng
RunTime: 1 hr 41 minutes
Rating: M18 (Nudity and sexual scenes)
Released By: Screened at Painting with Light: Festival of International Films on Art
Official Website: https://www.nationalgallery.sg/festivals/painting-with-light-2018
Opening Day: 5 October 2018
Synopsis: Their Remaining Journey weaves together three different stories: a theatre actress meets an untimely death and awaits reincarnation while her soul is trapped with an unknown family in Singapore; a pilates instructor travels to New York, unable to escape from the memory of a dead-end relationship; and a Singapore immigrant in Taiwan desperately tries to muster the courage to tell his wife of his illness and remorse. Connected through their loneliness, the protagonists attempt to negotiate personal loss and displacement.
Movie Review:
This film is not for the masses. The scenes are mostly in black and white, and the story moves at a very slow pace. There are many still shots and very little dialogue. There is a brooding sense of gloom throughout the 101 minute film, and rightfully so - because the plot deals with death, loneliness, loss and displacement.
Singaporean visual artist John Clang's debut feature film is not a crowd pleaser, but a reflective look at the darkest corners of the human soul. What happens when we die? Why do we feel hurt after a relationship ends? What goes through our minds we struggle with a guilty conscience?
Clang takes on the roles of director, writer and editor in this production. With the well-framed shots by director of photography Lavender Chang, it is evident that the filmmakers want to use the medium of art to tell a story of the disconnect in humans.
There are three interwoven tales in the film. The first involves a theatre actress who is waiting for reincarnation after meeting an untimely death. Her soul is trapped in an unknown family in Singapore. The second narrative involves a Pilates instructor in New York who is grieving her less than happy relationship. The last thread involves a Singapore immigrant in Taiwan who isn't sure how to break an upsetting piece of news to his wife. The three protagonist wander from location to location, from corner to corner as the world continues to spin around them.
There are familiar scenes in the film - mundane conversations in the family, people having dinner and taking showers. There are supernatural elements which suggest that we are not alone in this world - spirits observe our everyday activities without our knowledge. There are regrets that we conceal - spoken words and environmental noise help to distract us. These are just some of the thoughts that will come to you as the film progresses.
If you are a fan of films like The Wayward Cloud (2005) and I Don't Want To Sleep Alone (2006), this approach will not be alien to you. Clang's film also brings to mind director Tsai Ming Liang's works, where characters are often lost and lonely.
The ensemble cast featuring Beon Kan, Boon Hock Lim, Doreen Toh and Joavien Ng are actors and amateurs that most viewers are unaware of. This helps to lend authenticity to the film as the characters may be someone you know - a common face in the crowd. Clarence Chung's score adds a touch of melancholy to thought provoking story. The Chinese title of the film translates to "Grey Rainbow", which isn't exactly what you'd call cheery.
Nominated for a Bright Future Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, this film should be regarded as a piece of art rather than entertainment. While challenging to watch, the film's takeaways may just provide you with a new perspective of life, and in this instance - death.
Movie Rating:
(A meditative and reflective piece of art that may give you a new perspective of life, and in this instance - death)
Review by John Li
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