By Michael Colford
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Tsai Ming-liang
Starring: Kang-sheng Lee | Kuei-Mei Yang | Shiang-chyi Chen | Yi Cheng Lee. Yi Chieh Lee | Yi-ching Lu
Original language title: Jiao you
Country: france, taiwan
Year: 2013
Running time: 138
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3119416/reference
Michael says: “After seeing the great director Tsai Ming-liang’s latest film, DAYS, I decided to go back and watch his previous film, and the only of his features that I hadn’t seen, STRAY DOGS. Interestingly enough, while I was braced for DAYS, and it’s lengthy static shots and lack of dialog, its ultimate warmth and connection made it an easier watch that the similarly paced, yet considerably bleaker STRAY DOGS. More of a thematic sequel to I DON’T WANT TO SLEEP ALONE, STRAY DOGS follows a father and his two children as they struggle with homelessness in an urban landscape, bathing in public toilets, sleeping in abandoned buildings, and getting hand-outs at the local grocery store. Three actresses play a key woman — possibly their mother — throughout the film. The plot, what little there is, is difficult to decipher. It seems more a commentary on the state of urban life for the unfortunate. One arresting scene three-quarters of the way through the film finds the family’s father, played by Tsai’s muse, Lee Kang-sheng, attacking and devouring a cabbage that his daughter has set up to be the head of a life-sized doll. The gusto, and even mania with which Lee attacks this cabbage is startling and could be interpreted as a descent into madness, or a release of long-held rage or fear. Also of note are the final two scenes of the film that will try even the most ardent or patient film-viewers. Two static shots back to back, the first one over 13 minutes long that shows two characters gazing at something… there is very little movement, and the payoff, when it comes, is another nearly 10 minute long motionless scenes before the film concludes. You’ll be scratching your head for sure.