CHAIN KAIGE LOSES GRIP ON CAUGHT IN THE WEB BY PRADIP BISWAS, THE INDIAN EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS JURY MEMBER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF INDIA,IFFI, GOA AND FRIBOURG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, FIFF, SWISS CURATOR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALS Chani Kaige, one time China’s no one director, seems to have lost his cinematic hold on hi new film, called CAUGHT ON THE WEB. It is unthinkable a director so strong in image creation has gone flat in the new film that all through fumbles and falters. Here is a plot though. The film deals with modern day China where a young woman becomes trapped in slim controversy after a cell phone video of her being disrespectful on a public bus to an elderly person goes frenetic. To spin this light-weight motif Kaige takes huge liberty to pack his film with all sorts of melodramatic refrains, making it to the point of cerebral boredom. We are not told why he has to go viral and wild to pan modern media world nastily. The process of running with his film somewhat makes us cheesed off as it often misses the focal point. For the first time I notice Kaige sinking into non-eventful social issue that does not need a such a long space to say his thumb-line. It is miles way from his work Farewell to My Concubine, which is also very controversial and sadistic. It is Kaige’s notional practice to make his films in a manner he remains too critical of moder China. Why it is so has never been explained. That he has mellowed down enough now lies in the fact that his current film CAUGHT IN THE WEB pokes fun at slightest push. His tension to provoke laughter to regale his audience has not gone well with his home audience nor with the international film-buffs. Probably his 121 minute duration of film mars a lot of space not tuned to his purpose. Kaige should not take his audience for a ride all the time he like to do. CAUGHT IN THE WEB is a film that says so much but suggests nothing. I am sure his senility is likely to trigger off half insanity. Otherwise, he could not have made a film after a long gap to fill in the hiatus. If CAUGHT IN THE WEB were not really made, China would not have lost anything that is worthwhile. Because, the moment Kaige seems to have lost poignancy and touch of good humour, he looks a half-baked artist unable to create any impact through his film. The point is: has he gone passé!!!! We need to ponder with a touch of seriousness. Says Kaige: Im ok, youre ok, technology is the devil message.” XXXXXXXXXXXX
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 07:43:36 +0000
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