The Dust of Modern Life

LiembelongstotheethnicminorityoftheSedangandlivesinaremoteregionofVietnam.Theobservingcamerasuccinctlysketchesadailyroutinethat’smarkedmorebysurvivingthanbyliving.Withhisfriends,hepreparesforanexpeditionintothejungle,wheretheyoungmenwanttotaketimeout,continuethetraditionoftheirancestors,becomehuntersandgatherers.Themoretwistingtheirpaths,thedeeperthefilmseemstoenterintoadifferentsphere.<br/>　　WegettoknowLiemdoingeverydayactivities.Carryingthebabyinasling,hecooks,hangsoutthelaundry,goestothefield.Thegiantloudspeakersfixedtothestreetlightsfillhisvillagewithofficialnewsandadvertising.Inhisstilthouse,LiempreferstolistentoVietnamesepopmusic.Soonwefeeltherhythm,theuniquebeatofthislife.WhenLiemandhisfriendssetoutinrubbersandalsandcarryingbackpacks,thecamerafollowsclosebehind,takestheirperspective.ShotonSuper16,thefilmcapturesthegreentonesoftheVietnameseCentralHighlands,theimagesdevelopamesmerizingdepth.Therustlingofleaves,thebuzzingofinsects,birdsongandpermanentraincometogetherinamelodioussoundscape.Suddenlytimeseemstostandstill,theseparationbetweenscreenandauditoriumislifted.