Tan Chui Mui Writes

invisible cities 2008-12-01 10:31:10

1. One of my greatest abilities is that I can write in the dark. Somehow I believe I am a genius.

2. I must admit, I always try too hard to appear more intelligent than I really am.

3. One of the first things I did during my residency: bought Robert Bresson's Notes Sur Le Cinematographe, the French version. And I started to read it from cover to cover, without knowing much French. I had the strange belief that I would be able to understand it. Or at least I would be able to learn some French after reading it. But it didn't work that way. Maybe I should have started with Le Petit Prince.

4. I learned most of my French in the cinema. French films are shown without subtitles, and foreign films are shown with French subtitles. I spend most of my time in Cinematheque Francaise. I don't even check what film is showing. I just go there at night, buy a ticket and sit in the front row.

5. Why do we love cinema? Because in the safe world of cinema, facing these fictional characters, we become more human than we really are. We become kinder and more sympathetic; we simply become better people.

6. Because in the safe world of cinema, we are merely observers. We stay safe from the danger and the emotional threat of life itself, safe from growing indifferent.

7. Because in the safe world of cinema, we experience many lives.

8. Why make films? Because film is the greatest art form of this century, and I want to be on the side of the greatest.

9. Because in real life, we can hardly understand each other.

10. Because that is the only way I can hang out with friends.

11. Because I don't know any better way to live.

12. Because there is a part of me, sad and fragile, that can only be shown to you in the dark.

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When I was in Paris, Alexis asked me to write something for Criticine.

This is what Alexis said, "In 2006 Tan Chui Mui followed Raya Martin as the second Southeast Asian filmmaker selected for the prestigious Cannes Cinefondation residence in Paris. Criticine asked her to send a few notes while she was in France, and she obliged. Chui Mui's notes are playful, sometimes innocent, but at particular moments, startlingly intimate as well. Just like her films. "

chuimui [Member] 2008-12-01 @ 10:33

I enjoy the safe world of cinema in the early days too as I can escape from reality and be in a totally different world.

I admit I don't enjoy cinema that much these days as I mostly watch movies at home but I still feel the same essence from the movies regardless of the venues.

Cinemas, today to me, is to be able to be closed to someone special to share the special movie in the mutually special moment....

arale [Visitor] 2008-12-01 @ 11:21

i learned Cantonese from watching HK films. i learned phrases like:

1. "lei lang jeng dit!"

2. "lei yao chee lei!"

3. "mm guan ngor xi ah, Ah Sir!"

4. "mm hai ah maa???"

allankoay [Visitor] · http://allankoay.webs.com 2008-12-01 @ 12:10

arale,

i like special moments in films too. I still like it better to be in the cinema. or to be in the dark. because i cry too easily!

Allan,

what? you learned all your cantonese from stephen chow?

if you want to learn advance cantonese, go to this programme:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=16451600F35B7EC2

siu tam kong gong wa!

chuimui [Member] 2008-12-01 @ 17:20

I may sound unromantic but I don't feel too secured to be in the cinema these days especially at night.

I am a very boring person. I can keep watching the same movies, time after time. So home is still the best cinema for me....

And I cry very easily....

arale [Visitor] 2008-12-02 @ 14:28

Cinema is the best place to reflect our lives through our imagination. Sometimes can be so true and sometimes can be so uncertain. Again that's how our live and imagination work together. It doesn't mean that we are living in our dreamland. I believe every movie has its own degree of true to our lives...lol

taufei [Visitor] 2009-03-31 @ 19:42

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