Jie hou tao hua: An oddly quiet look at the ruins

Is this for you?

If you like movies that feel like a dusty photograph you found in an attic, you’ll probably find something to love here. If you need a plot that moves faster than a slow walk, you are going to hate every single second of this.

It’s not exactly a thrill ride. Most of the time, the characters just sort of exist in these big, empty spaces.

The silence is the point

There is a scene near the middle where Butterfly Wu just stares at a tea cup. She does it for maybe forty seconds too long. It’s awkward. It’s weirdly magnetic.

You can tell the director was trying to make a statement about grief or something, but it just feels like the actor forgot her line and decided to improvise a hobby. I didn't mind it.

• The lighting in the kitchen scenes is surprisingly moody.
• The background extras in the market look like they wandered in from The Lotus Dancer and forgot to leave.
• There’s a cat in the third act that steals the whole movie, honestly.

The dialogue is sparse. It feels like everyone is constantly holding back a sneeze. It’s refreshing, actually.

It’s not as punchy as The Chaser, but it has this weird, persistent hum. You know when a fan is clicking in the other room? That’s what this movie feels like. It’s annoying but you get used to it.

Odd bits and pieces

I noticed a guy in the back of the town square scene who is wearing a watch. A watch! In a period piece! Once I saw it, I couldn't stop looking for it in every shot. It drove me crazy.

The way the camera tracks the movement of dust motes in the sunlight is great. Then, five minutes later, it’s all blurry and shaky for no reason at all. It’s a very uneven experience.

I don't think it’s a masterpiece. I don't think it’s trying to be. It feels like someone just wanted to film people trying to figure out what happens next when there is no next.

The pacing is a disaster. But maybe that's life? Who knows. 🎞️