In sonnet 101 it feels like our writer's inspiration is perhaps not inspiring as much as she should, because it is pointed out to them that they have a role to play and that if they are not fulfilling that role then what is the writer supposed to do? When watching the film I can only assume I am missing something, whether it be in the sonnet or in the film or in the location, because I struggled to find a connection with what I was thinking and how it was delivered. The film opens with a girl tracing her fingers over the inscription on the base of a statue of Confucius, before we then see her on a step failing to light a cigarette before launching into the sonnet with a certain amount of frustration, walking the streets as she does so.
In terms of the delivery of the sonnet text, this is pretty good as the text is clear and the actress' performance is good, with her feelings and expressions fitting her delivery of the words. Okay the sound quality was pretty variable, but never to the point that it was hard to hear. What bugged me was that the film was doing something I didn't understand – and in fairness it is possible it is me because I know nothing about the location. Is Confucius the muse? Or is the inscription that she is focusing on the thing? I had to look up the inscription to find that it is a proverb, a flag and praise for a just Government of wise leaders – is it a statement on them then? I have no idea and I didn't feel that the film particularly helped me to figure it out, which is a shame because I did feel like I was on the outside looking in.
Still, the performance is good and the delivery of the actual words is fine, I just wish I had a better idea of what it was doing with them.
In terms of the delivery of the sonnet text, this is pretty good as the text is clear and the actress' performance is good, with her feelings and expressions fitting her delivery of the words. Okay the sound quality was pretty variable, but never to the point that it was hard to hear. What bugged me was that the film was doing something I didn't understand – and in fairness it is possible it is me because I know nothing about the location. Is Confucius the muse? Or is the inscription that she is focusing on the thing? I had to look up the inscription to find that it is a proverb, a flag and praise for a just Government of wise leaders – is it a statement on them then? I have no idea and I didn't feel that the film particularly helped me to figure it out, which is a shame because I did feel like I was on the outside looking in.
Still, the performance is good and the delivery of the actual words is fine, I just wish I had a better idea of what it was doing with them.