Journey to the West

The figure of a monk appears amid the lively hubbub of Marseille's streets, inching along almost imperceptibly through the city's open spaces. After watching for a time, what at first seemed to be a sculptural performance artist standing in a crowd comes to life in subtle movements and appears to take an almost unnoticeable step forward. Partaking of the "snail's pace" genre of films, Journey to the West requires viewers who are patiently willing to immerse themselves in the experience and to actively participate in it. The key to reading the film is the object of interest itself. That is to say, in order to understand the town, the monk needn't enter into conversation, observe his surroundings, or ascertain facts. It is enough to live, to take in the moment, and to appreciate a place in order to understand it. In a picture that clearly betrays an affinity for Buddhist thought, the director challenges audiences in the same way, awakening in them a desire to look beyond the accustomed formalities of art. The film's story comes from the successful theater play Only You, in which Tsai Ming Liang likewise directed the pace of a walking character. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)