Dong

"Dong" is an evocative documentary-style film directed by renowned Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke and features the work of artists Liu Xiaodong and Han Sanming. Not just a mere film, "Dong" is a rich exploration into humanity, society, art, and the changing landscapes in modern China.

The movie's primary focus is the prominent Chinese painter, Liu Xiaodong, and his interaction with the world around him. The film elucidates his creative process and gives an intimate glance into how his interactions with fellow humans translate into vibrant brushstrokes on canvas. Xiaodong is known for his oeuvre of large-sized group portraits painted on location, something not commonly seen in contemporary Chinese art. In "Dong," we see the artist at work in two very distinct locations, presenting a study in contrasts that underline the complexity and variability of human experience.

The first half of "Dong" takes us to Xiaodong's hometown in the Three Gorges region of China. Here, the artist works on a series of paintings depicting a group of laborers working industriously on the demolition of old buildings. This is in preparation for the controversial Three Gorges Dam project, known for causing widespread social and environmental changes in the area. While the project represents technological progress and modernization, it also leads to displaced populations and demolished historical sites.

As we follow Xiaodong in his artistic endeavors, we witness the ways in which he is affected by the magnitude of what is happening around him. The demolitions, the workers, their faces- everything finds a place in his canvases. During his stint, he also meets Han Sanming, a local miner turned actor, who is also a subject in Xiaodong’s painting. Sanming adds a distinct perspective to the narrative with his raw and genuine tales of the local life.

In the second half of the film, we are transported from rural China to Thailand's metropolis, Bangkok, where Xiaodong works on a series of paintings of young, scantily-clad women against a metropolis's busy backdrop. The change in atmosphere, culture, and the subjects of his painting portrays vividly the artist's ability to adapt and draw inspiration from varied experiences. As he paints, he interacts with his subjects, taking us into their lives and stories, making the portraits more than just pretty pictures.

"Dong" subtly touches upon themes such as the interplay of traditional and modern society, displacement, adaptation, and the human capacity to endure and transform. It is a journey where art intermingles with societal shifts, where the societal developments are cataloged not in history books but in the form of art- real, hard-hitting, telling tales of changing times.

This documentary-style film offers a cinematic experience that is contemplative and immersive. The director, Jia Zhangke, has a keen eye for detail and an empathetic understanding of human emotions. He masterfully captures the transformation of people, their environment, and the clashes between history, modern development, and the human spirit under these circumstances. His direction and storytelling, combined with Liu Xiaodong's depictions, make "Dong" a rich, visual lexicon.

"Dong" is not a film that reveals its depth and beauty immediately. This is not a film where actions speak louder than words; rather, it's the silence, observation, and the capacity to perceive the unspoken that makes this film an extraordinary exploration. It is a raw, unfiltered expedition into the world of Liu Xiaodong and his subjects- a door to a world where life and art seamlessly merge and narrate stories of resilience and transformation.

In short, “Dong” is a potent and highly evocative work of art, presented on film. The juxtaposition of cultures, the meditation on the passage of time, and the interplay of past, present, and future against the backdrop of changing landscapes make it an illuminating cinematic experience. Watch it for its profound engagement with art, life, society, and change as seen through Xiaodong’s eyes, every frame of the film a masterpiece in itself.