The Wayward Cloud

Ramsey Campbell · 12-12-2009

Lord! This seems to be the most nearly appropriate forum in which to post this. I considered "Ligottian films", but it isn't really that either. I'm thinking of Tsai Ming-liang's musical comedy, shot rather in the style of late Ozu, about a drought in Taiwan. I saw it yesterday and thought it - well, extraordinary seems an inadequate word. The reason I've put it on this thread is the ending, which is very disturbing indeed, and not for the sexually squeamish. Has anyone else here seen it, and/or other work by the director?

Milvus · 12-13-2009

Ramsey, I haven't seen The Wayward Cloud, but I have seen some of Tsai's earlier films, such as The Hole (Dong) and The River (He Liou). Along with Hou Hsiao-hsien and Ang Lee he is one of Taiwan's most prominent directors (although he was born in Malaysia, I believe). I've been meaning to watch Hole and The River again, as it's been a while since I saw them. I enjoyed the more recent (2003) film Goodbye Dragon Inn (Bu San). Living in Taiwan, I really should take advantage more of the opportunities to see these films when they first appear. I seem to recall him (unless it was Hou Hsiao-hsian) coming to our university in the 80s to give a talk on films, but my memory of it is very hazy.