A triangle of ambiguity
Shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 2008, Yin Lichuan's KNITTING finally got released in China in early 2010. Was it worth the wait?
KNITTING
KNITTING (2008) is the second film by poet-turned-director Yin Lichuan. While her debut film THE PARK (2006) explored the somewhat autobiographical relationship between a father and his daughter, this time Yin strays from a subject she’s familiar with and focuses instead on the life of migrant workers. Shot in the bustling metropolis of Guangzhou, in southern China, KNITTING tells the story of a love triangle between one man and two women. Chen Jin and his fiancée Daping live a drifting life on the outskirts of town. When Chen’s ex-girlfriend Haili shows up things get complicated, and the situation escalates with Chen’s departure, which leaves the two women alone together, having to depend on each other.
Adapted from a short novel by Ah Mei (a personal friend of the director), the film has a strong focal point in its study of female characters. Despite Yin’s refusal to acknowledge gender interpretations of her work, it is clear that KNITTING is primarily concerned with following women on the path of self redemption, in a world where men are deserting cowards. The international title itself goes beyond the activity of one of the characters, and hints at a subtle, feminine bonding process.
Opposite in characters (one is clumsy and dumb, the other strong and tough), the two women engage in an overexposed conflict that the director fails to pace correctly; instead of delicately showing their feelings, most of the scenes depict bullying and prevarication, thus making the final resolution rushed and unnatural. Devoid of heartfelt and dramatic substance, the film never appears as emotional as it should be, and Yin’s fresh originality in poetry doesn’t translate well in her sophomore film effort, marking a step back from its predecessor THE PARK.
301 Moved Permanently