Shorts : From Its Mouth Came a River of High-End Residential Appliances (2018)
As an aspiring filmmaker, it’s sometimes refreshing and inspiring to cruise through whatever short films I can find from different festivals, especially those that are current. Mubi often showcases work from very recent festivals, and recently they just wrapped up a group of selections from the New York Film Festival. The one that really caught my eye was Jon Wang’s Hong Kong-based documentary short From Its Mouth Came a River of High-End Residential Appliances.
Director Jon Wang and drone operator Hercules visit the south side of Hong Kong, specifically Bel-Air, the location of a high-end residential property made of six 50-story buildings that form a gate between the city and the sea. Their goal is to fly their drone through the dragon gates designed into the buildings, a feng-shui practice meant to bring harmony between nature and man-made forms. As the drones approach the gates and pass through, Wang ruminates on their existence, his research and personal thoughts on them, and his reasons for undertaking the project.
The three passages we are presented provide an interesting spiral from broad historic information, such as how the practice of feng-shui moved to the location and why dragon gates even exist, to very personal ruminations, such as Wang’s observations on the feng-shui of their task versus what they’re wearing, the drone-operating technique that Hercules utilizes, and even what comes off as fever-dream style ramblings on why he undertook the project in the first place, and how his identity influences his path.
The narration focusing on the history of dragons, their makeup, their connection to emperors, and more, all while the drone flies towards one of the more majestic dragon gates, is the perfect middle section for the short. Wang Shui, the name given to the director’s personal vision of the dragon, is fitting, as it bridges himself (as a representative of mankind) with the project perfectly. The fact that traditionalists would continue to build these dragon gates, despite the fact that many do not believe in dragons, despite persecution from the government, and despite the fact that you are losing precious residential square footage is a testament to how humans and their belief systems are impossible to break in some cases.
The symbolism of the flight towards these dragon gates is symbolically presented to us through narration that influences our experience. The first flight is very much about history and logic, so you are captivated by the sheer statement that these gates make in regards to human resistance and staying true to your beliefs. The second flight focuses on the mythology of the dragon, putting us as viewers in the place of someone riding a dragon through said gate, or perhaps even in the place of the dragon itself. The final path is a very personal testament on Wang and his sexuality, making the journey towards the gate feel like a journey into the unknown as he expresses his frustrations about limitations and the way his lifestyle is viewed.
The short is technically very well made, and it feels like a shared mediation between Wang and us as viewers. The presentation is very similar to the Qatsi series, with the sole exemption being narration rather than a score. Definitely worth your time, especially if you’re a Mubi subscriber.