Planet of Snail

'Though no star has glistened in my eyes, I have never doubted that they are shining bright in space.'


Planet of Snail has got to be one of my favourite films at this year's Dubai Film Festival. The director, Seung-Jun Yi, takes 2 key characters, Young-Chan and Soon-Ho, and presents the snail-paced tender moments of their routine days.


Seung-Jun Yi presents 2 key messages; one on love and another on the inner self; both offering generous and transparent treatment. The protagonists 'being' and relationship is so genuinely endearing, its beauty glows from the inside out. Their faces are enchanting to view. There is no need for a screenplay. All activity and emotion, whether, love, humour or sadness evolve organically.


Perhaps some of the most endearing moments are when Soon-Ho uses a gentle finger-braille system of touch, devised by the Japanese deaf and blind professor Satoshi Fukushima, to communicate with her husband.  


See the tralier.


Some of the key moments include a tree-hugging  scene where Young-Chan uses his hands to feel the tree's energy. Soon-Ho, upon seeing her husband hugging a tree, responds to his request to join him by smiling widely and saying, "You know this is embarrassing", but wraps her arms around him and the tree to share in the experience.


In another scene, a blind friend states that Young-Chan is so lucky to have someone to guide him, feed him and help him dress, to which Young-Chan immediately responds that no partner can be  a partner unless one is willing to give. It is not about taking, but what one is able to give to a relationship....I felt he was saying that the deepest level of meaning in a relationship is when one is able to accept and embrace one's reality and learn to love oneself and grow. Only then can we achieve a level of profound giving that can be embraced by another.


Another beautiful moment is Young-Chan's response to the sensation of rain.


'When I feel like crying I walk out in the rain. So let's feel the rain.'


And yet another is the teamworking effort displayed to change a lightbulb.


The very human aspects of our existence are reflected in Young-Chan's sculptures and are often humorous. We see an honest human with much humanity in him than perhaps that found in other 'complete' human beings.


I'm closing my eyes for a while to see the most precious things. I'm closing my ears to hear the most beautiful sounds..

An 'aha' moment

I’ve had a thought… an ‘aha’ moment…(now that’s a good name for a blog ~ Ania’s ‘aha’ moment blog~). We often say an art viewer might look at a piece of art work and see a part of themselves in the work. They will interpret the artist’s work in light of their own experiences. They shall see reflections of their experiences in the artist’s work. The artist might not had ever intended to convey the message or symbol read by the viewer but their experience interprets what they see in an art work.
Similarily, can we not say that when we meet another person or come to know another person that our subconscience decides if we like this person or not based on reflections of our own personal (and I would say emotional) experiences. If we like a person is it because we see our own love, happiness and joy reflected in the other person? If we take a dislike to another is it because we see our own failings in the other person? Does it not follow then that if others are unkind to us they are merely seeing reflections of themselves? And for the people who are always kind they see only kindness in the other? So if you are experiencing or suffering from others' negative behaviours perhaps look at your surroundings. Change them if you can and work with others who have a positive outlook on life and they shall see only positvie things about you and accept you for whom you are .