Our Time Machine

Our Time Machine is a captivating, 2019 documentary film offering a poignant exploration of the universal themes of love, creativity, aging, and the intergenerational bond between a father and his son. The film's characters primarily consist of Ma Ke, talented Chinese artist Ma Liang (aka Maleonn), and his father, Ma Duo. Their story unfolds against the vibrant backdrop of Beijing’s theater scene, which serves as a reflection of the shifts occurring within Chinese society on a larger scale.

The central protagonist, Maleonn, is a renowned and multifaceted artist who is best known for his provocative and often surreal photography. Nevertheless, the narrative of Our Time Machine shifts attention towards one of his largest and most ambitious art projects. Compelled by his father's growing affliction with Alzheimer's disease, Maleonn proposes a unique approach to elicit and document fading memories. He constructs a visually stunning, life-size puppet show called "Papa's Time Machine." This performance art piece becomes an emotional journey allowing Maleonn and his father to bond, connect, and communicate on a stage where time holds still.

In the film, Ma Duo, a former director of China’s Beijing Opera, gradually begins to lose his memory. This narrative thread becomes one of the film's central emotional arcs as the audience experiences the heart-wrenching reality of Alzheimer's disease. However, the film simultaneously manages to maintain a delicate balance of hopefulness. This is seen through Maleonn's dedicated efforts to capture his father's influence and artistic legacy through his own form of expression.

The co-director of Our Time Machine, S. Leo Chiang, also utilizes Tianyi Huang, the puppeteer. Huang imbues life into metal and plastic, puppetry that metaphorically provides a mirror for themes of humanity, life, and aging. This artistic spectacle takes us into a dreamlike world that resonates with emotional depth and serves as a means for Maleonn to say things he otherwise cannot articulate.

Throughout the film, the audience gets an intimate glimpse into the dynamic relationship between father and son, revealing the complexities of love, creativity, and loss. There's a distinctive thematic emphasis on memory, heritage, and the passing of time, creating a profound narrative blend of personal, artistic, and societal exploration. Moreover, the movie unveils an emotional exploration of how art can serve as a vehicle for addressing life's most challenging moments.

The intricate animation and expert cinematography make Our Time Machine a visual masterpiece. The film gracefully transitions from scenes of the bustling Beijing cityscapes to intimate domestic scenes, to glimpses of vibrant puppet shows, providing a rich sensory experience. The creators bring astonishingly intricate puppets to life and transform them into emotional conduits, representing the shared history and future dreams between a son and his father.

From an aesthetic perspective, Our Time Machine is visually poetic and artistically rich, offering layers of meaning through the symbolism of the puppet show. The mechanical artistry of the puppets acts as an ode to the passage of time, mortality, and the eternal struggle to preserve our fading memories.

Simultaneously, Our Time Machine is a compelling exploration of cultural shifts and reinvention within contemporary China. It delves complexly into the societal issues around aging, dementia, and the rapidly changing art scene in Beijing's urban landscape. It provides a sensitive portrayal of the challenges of caring for an aging parent while offering an engaging insight into the world of theatrical innovation.

With its blend of universal human emotions, artistic genius, and socio-cultural insights, Our Time Machine displays an exquisite narrative synergy. For those seeking a film with emotional depth, artistic flair, and a profound reflection on aging and memory, Our Time Machine comes as a brilliant piece of cinematic art capturing a timeless human story in a fascinating cultural context. Its engaging narrative structure and visually compelling storytelling make it a cinematic experience truly worth your time.