Even though we understand the meaning of co-existence as humans, we often do not put theory into practice. More than once, as indicated by issues such as climate change, for example, we tend to see other forms of life as separate entities, making the issue manageable in our minds, but essentially ignoring the complexities of life on earth. In her short animated feature “As Usual”, which already screened at Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film and International Short Film Festival Oberhausen in 2019, Taiwanese director and animator Liu Kuan-wen explores the concept of co-existences, its possibilities and perhaps even the reasons why it is sometimes a tough idea to put into practice.
As Usual is screening at Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival
The story of “As Usual” takes place in two locations, the streets of an unknown city and a temple. While the latter is a place of religion, contemplation and meditation, life in the city goes on with various vendors preparing meals, furniture and other things. People are constantly walking by, buying items, chatting or just on their way to work, while, at the same time, various stray cats observe the comings and goings of the city, from the safety of dark alleys. However, as night comes and people are back in their homes, the cats come out to take over what was populated by humans during the day.
During the course of the 17 minutes of running time, Liu Kuan-wen explores the various sides of life. The contrasts between the calmness of the temple on the one hand and the hustle-and-bustle of the city stress the core theme of co-existence, which seems to be non-existent at first, but if one takes a closer look, there are certain indicators suggesting otherwise. Through the animation and especially the impressive sound design, the viewer catches a glimpse of the various facets of the city and the temple and how they seem to interconnect, for example, with the cats taking over certain areas and in a way imitating what people did there.
In the end, “As Usual” is a contemplative short feature about the idea of co-existence. Liu Kuan.wen manages to make a point about the ways this concept is practiced in our daily lives, sometimes perhaps not knowingly, through a story which seems more like visual metaphor.
