Since there might be a few whitewater kayakers reading this review as a result of finding their way from my adventure oriented independent film production website, I will mention that The Bird People in China contains a few fascinating and massive, flood stage river scenes in China.
And for the podcast enthusiasts out there, the main lead in this movie documents his experiences with a portable cassette recorder, similarly to how a soundseeing podcast episode might be recorded. One of the recordings becomes important to the development of the story, though the film definitely takes liberties with the potential self-rejuvenation properties of dying batteries.
I have spent quite a bit of time in China for a variety of reasons, but the filth and pollution in the cities there has discouraged me from being eager to return for pleasure trips. Unlike Japan where I could live happily for the rest of my life, China for me is only a place for visiting. Watching The Bird People in China helped remind me that I may still want to risk visiting China a time or two more to experience some of the beautiful remote areas I have not yet seen.
I really enjoyed this curious film. It may be too slow paced for film enthusiasts who thrive on movies such as those Miike is more famous for, but I think the pacing here provides more time to enjoy and appreciate the beautiful scenery and unusual story.
Savage Japan Misc. Tidbits
The commentary track from English speaker Tom Mes, who is apparently a big fan of Takashi Miike’s tacky horror/terror films, reinforces a point I just touched on in the Rashomon review, that commentaries by people who were not involved in the production of a film are often not very engaging.
It is nice that an effort was made to find someone to add commentary in English. Tom Mes seems like a pleasant enough fellow in this commentary recording, but you would likely need to be an obsessive commentary listener like me to make it all the way through The Bird People in China's commentary track.
A more interesting tidbit to look for on the DVD is the computer generated turtle brigade that pulls a raft through a very wild river. The whole notion of the turtles serving in this fashion and how they could possibly be recovered when lost is absolutely ludicrous, but it doesn't really disturb the movie. The entire turtle scenario somehow seems acceptable in this little fable, though it is a bit startling when those CGI turtles show up in the brief underwater scene. I am sure I am not the only person who skips back a bit with their remote to re-watch that completely unexpected short visual.
For Japanese Language Students
I found the Japanese very listenable in this movie, and I was able to pick out quite a bit of dialogue considering I am at a beginner level as of this viewing. The Bird People in China is a modern story with modern dialogue between the Japanese characters, even if they are in an "ancient" place. The relaxed pace of the film may also facilitate listening by providing a little time to absorb what you are hearing.
Final Notes
As I complete this review, I find myself already in the mood to watch this film for the third time. There are few movies that I even want to watch twice. I am adding this DVD to my personal collection, and I've realize this film probably would be a great gift for someone studying Japanese, a travel enthusiast, or someone that considers themselves to be ecologically minded.
This is probably one of the better films for introducing people to Japanese cinema. It really is more about nature and a charming mystery than it is about the intricacies of Japanese culture. Its appeal is broad.
This is one of the first reviews I am posting to the site. I hope I find more films worthy of tossing in such supportive "final notes" with.
Dan Savage
Dan@SavageSnow.com
(not rated by MPAA)
