Things We Do

Things we do when we fall in love, sixth feature by young Malaysian director James Lee, is a significant and particularly moving example of Malaysian "New Wave", and even beyond, of the innovation in cinematic language using a unique sensibility as well as the possibilities and restraints of DV camera. It is really the contemporary stage to be related to the modernity of Rossellini's Viaggio in Italia, over decades. Which means staying close to a couple travelling by car out of the city as well as out of its usual sentimental everyday relation, in an attempt to go beyond a crisis either by reuniting or splitting. Ahead of any psychological or sociological plot, the sketch-drawing use of small digital camera offers a very precise and deep relation with people feelings, fears and hopes. It accomplishes in an original way the eternal attempt of any work of art: to be so well related to the singularity of individuals (as well as of local situations and periods of time: today, in Kuala Lumpur and around) that it does reach a universal level, able to touch anyone, anywhere.

Jean-Michel Frodon
Chief Editor of Cahiers du Cinéma

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