PLATFORM (2000, Jia Zhangke)
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One of the most-heralded films to come out of China in the last decade, Platform focuses on a performing troupe whose members in 1979 are singing the praises of Mao in their northern province. Over the next 12 years, these Chinese entertainers transform themselves from zealous Communist youths to capitalist entrepreneurs, but it’s a journey that exacts a toll on the group. Filming mostly in long shots and long takes, director Jia keeps us at a distance, not allowing us to get close to his characters, which serves to accentuate their seeming lack of interest in their own lives. Platform is a long haul, clocking in at 155 minutes, but after you adjust to Jia’s languid tempo, you’ll appreciate his mastery. (June 11, Cinematheque, screening at Jackman Hall, Art Gallery of Ontario)
