Hou Hsiao-hsien 20: Contexts 11 – The Terrorizers (Edward Yang, 1986)

We continue with our discussion of Edward Yang films in relation to Hou Hsiao-hsien’s work. We discuss the film in relation to Postmodernism, Existentialism, contingency, nausea, chance. We note that Fredric Jameson wrote on Sartre, Postmodernism, and this film. We discuss, Yang’s characteristic visuals, his distinctive way of filming, narrating, and style of characterisation; a kind of mosaic  sights, sounds, scenes which the viewer is left to piece together. We continue to be entranced.

The podcast can also be listened to on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2zWZ7Egdy6xPCwHPHlOOaT

and on itunes here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/first-impressions-thinking-aloud-about-film/id1548559546

Images referred to in the film:

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf

Characteristically Yang

Images of books and shots through a curtain are characteristic of The Terrorizers. This condenses them both.

José Arroyo

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