The Bird People of China
Directed by Takashi Miike
Viewed at the San Francisco
International Film Festival

You show me the images of "progress", mechanical monsters, people scurrying. My nerves sit-up, I start to sweat. Our man Wada is at home here, a young executive on the rise, a company man. And now with an important mission: to find the rich jade mine in remote southern China and make the deal! Once on his way, he discovers that he is being followed by the Yakuza (Mr. Ujiie) who are there to claim a portion of the mine as payment for an overdue loan. But as they venture further and further, they leave "civilization" and it's machinery, and are welcomed into the wondrous wildness of nature with open arms and open eyes.
It is the undercurrent of wonder and magic that lead Wada & Ujiie to their spiritual awakening- forced to ask the hard questions about progress and mechanization versus the beauty of simplicity and the laughter of a child.
Ultimately it seems impossible to stop the tidal wave of progress, but this doesn't mean that we must lose the awareness and appreciation of the magic around us everywhere.
I make my wings so that I may learn to fly!

Filmography

Takashi Miike Shinjuku Black Society (1996), Fudoh: The New Generation (1996), Rainy Dog (1996) 966), Makin' Up (1993)

Reviewed by Eric Michel, FilmCities

Photo

Country: Japan
Year: 1997
Running Time: 118 Min.
Producer: Toshiaki Nakazawa

Cast
Masahiro Motoko, Renji Ishibashi, Mako , Wang Li Li

Editor: Taiji Shimamura
Camera: Hideo Yamamoto
Screenwriter: Masa Nakamura