Yang Fudong
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
I have only watched a handful of silent films in my life. Although I appreciated the experience of ‘witnessing’ the birth of cinema, I have never been enamoured with the idea. It always lacked a certain spark that could not be conveyed without sound. I could never put the series of motions to the narrative. As a result, silent movies always seemed rather esoteric. This short film by Yang Fudong, titled ‘First Spring’, for Prada, is really not much different. In fact, the acting is rather questionable. However, he has managed to capture a surreal, fantasy dream-like journey, weaving together light and shadows, shape and textures, and a smattering of Magritte to create visually striking frames. This is a silent film full of wondrous curiosities, leaving you questioning the future, perhaps anticipating the endless possibilities?