As a seasoned cinephile who’s had the privilege of witnessing the evolution of world cinema, I must say that Jia Zhangke‘s “Caught by the Tides” is an extraordinary masterpiece that showcases the power of time and memory in storytelling. His unique approach to filmmaking, which blends reality with fiction, old footage with new, and fact with speculation, creates a captivating tapestry of Chinese history and societal development.
Jia Zhangke, renowned as China’s independent filmmaker, utilized the lockdowns during the COVID-19 period to reexamine and reconsider the vast amount of footage he had accumulated throughout his over 20 years in filmmaking. This reflection led to the creation of “Caught by the Tides,” a film that premiered at Cannes and will be screened once more this week at the Busan International Film Festival.
In “Tides,” filmmaker Jia Yongkang blends archival footage with freshly produced content, using his partner and muse, Zhao Tao, as a guide. They traverse two decades of Chinese history on screen, portraying and enacting the recent societal and economic transformations in China. This journey covers key milestones such as China’s entry into the World Trade Organization, its successful bid for hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics, and almost up to the present day.
In her talk at the Busan event, Zhao mentioned that Jia often uses the name ‘Qiao Qiao’ for his characters, but ‘Qiao Qiao’ in their latest work is not the same character. She added, “Tides,” like many of Jia’s works, incorporates contemporary music extensively. However, unlike previous works where the music was used in a straightforward manner, here, Jia opted for a non-linear approach to give himself greater creative freedom.
Jia acknowledges that humans tend to be forgetful, explaining, “The footage itself may not hold much weight, but the audio recordings evoke memories of my past. The initial part of the film contains many disconnected pieces, not necessarily important, just like our fragmented memories.” He added.
Jia’s future projects may encompass both films based on Chinese history and those centered around artificial intelligence, as he is intrigued by exploring both the present-day China and these innovative themes. “I am deeply invested in the contemporary China, which I plan to continue exploring through film. However, my next project might delve into historical events. Meanwhile, I’m immersing myself in technology studies to create a film about AI,” he explained. In his recent work, “Tides”, artificial intelligence was utilized for a scene where Qiao Qiao interacts with a robot.
Jia’s look held a blend of compassion and scrutiny. He remarked, “There’s less conversing now compared to the year 2000. Back then, women in the movie were seen singing together joyously, which I captured impromptu with live sound recording, referencing an uplifting scene celebrating Women’s Day.” He continued, “Nowadays, that isn’t possible. Those times were marked by deep emotion and fervor. Today, our interactions primarily take place online.
When queried if his gaze had grown softer, Jia nearly conceded that he might have softened with time. “I’ve revisited my own recordings and other people’s movies, and I can notice a shift in my viewpoint. Today in China, there are increasingly more regulations.
In his changed or unchanged state, Zhao emphasizes that Jia possesses a benevolent and impactful perspective. “Initially, when I began acting, my concern for others was limited to just my immediate family,” she stated. “But Jia is captivated by people in general. Through him, I have discovered that it doesn’t matter what their origins are; these are the individuals we should cherish.” She continued, “This film [‘Tides’] serves as a priceless present. It allowed me to portray the lives of Chinese women at different ages: twenties, thirties, and forties.
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2024-10-05 12:16