HSU Ya-ting, Geoffrey HUGHES
- Taiwan
- 2016
- 13min
- DCP
- color/black and white
- Experiment
SYNOPSIS
Korean Premiere
SYNOPSIS
The River is an experimental short documenting the repetitively traumatic nature of pregnancy. Director HSU Ya-ting explores childbirth and the physical and emotional toll that childbirth took on her personally. In her film, HSU uses her body as a canvas, providing viewers with the most intimate view of what the female body is subjected to when bringing a pregnancy to term. Images of HSU accompany impressionistic depictions of her fetus in utero, and images of rivers suggesting both hope and menace, amongst other things. HSU and her husband invite audiences to partake in their shared nine-month journey.
PROGRAM NOTE
The River is an experimental film that is a sensational description of the film director¡¯s own experience with pregnancy. The director uses the image of a river to express a physical and emotional shock that is overwhelmed by anticipation, nervousness, anxiety, and intimidation. The string music played to the black and white images effectively conveys these complicated yet sensitive emotions. What other sensations will this woman experience after childbirth? The depiction of the woman¡¯s body leaving the water, as well as her reflection behind, poses questions on the impact that pregnancy and childbirth has on the female identity. (CHO HyeYoung)
PROGRAM NOTE
Korean Premiere
SYNOPSIS
The River is an experimental short documenting the repetitively traumatic nature of pregnancy. Director HSU Ya-ting explores childbirth and the physical and emotional toll that childbirth took on her personally. In her film, HSU uses her body as a canvas, providing viewers with the most intimate view of what the female body is subjected to when bringing a pregnancy to term. Images of HSU accompany impressionistic depictions of her fetus in utero, and images of rivers suggesting both hope and menace, amongst other things. HSU and her husband invite audiences to partake in their shared nine-month journey.
PROGRAM NOTE
The River is an experimental film that is a sensational description of the film director¡¯s own experience with pregnancy. The director uses the image of a river to express a physical and emotional shock that is overwhelmed by anticipation, nervousness, anxiety, and intimidation. The string music played to the black and white images effectively conveys these complicated yet sensitive emotions. What other sensations will this woman experience after childbirth? The depiction of the woman¡¯s body leaving the water, as well as her reflection behind, poses questions on the impact that pregnancy and childbirth has on the female identity. (CHO HyeYoung)