A Brighter Summer Day (1991)

[DVD Phreak]

I just watched this and LOVED it. To those who think this is another one of those slow, artsy, dragged on, nothing-going-on dramas, I say this: You know the proverbial phrase "you miss the boat?" Well, you guys miss the HARBOR.

The film's pace is nothing remotely resembling slow, because the plot moves swiftly from one scene or one shot to another. There is no "hold that thought and let's meditate a while" moment anywhere. Every shot, every line, every moment MOVES the story along. It is simply a LONG story. That DOESN'T make it "slow". The storytelling is not at break-neck speed, but it is not slow either. The plot moves along at a realistic pace because the film depicts REALITY here. The plot never really stops moving, so it does not really "drag". Name me a scene that drags. Name me a scene where the filmmaker protracts the action on the screen just to draw out the moment. Yang clearly intends to depict REALITY here. Every action feels real, the way it would occur in real life. Name me a scene where Yang creates an artificially drawn out moment like the ones in "L'Avventura", or in "The Graduate" when Benjamin runs towards the camera in an agonizingly slow pace, or the many scenes of Benjamin driving around with Simon & Garfunkel songs on the soundtrack, stopping the plot dead on its track? I'm not criticizing "The Graduate" or "L'Avventura here, because I love those drawn-out moments. It's just that we have to be clear that "A Brighter Summer Day" DOES NOT DRAG. It's sad that just because the film is long, some of you think it MUST drag without carefully looking at the evidence. And to an earlier poster's point, Yang DOES add music, in the form of the many Western songs sung by the characters in the film. And note that all the song sequences are not just nice noise on the soundtrack, but they have "story points" in them. So there you have it: The film isn't slow, doesn't drag, and has plenty going on. If anyone differs, please show me the evidence.

In other words, I think "A Brighter Summer Day" is PACKED with a plot-rich story that, under Yang's masterful hand, plays out in engaging and entertaining ways. And I intend to watch it again soon.