As we get older the question of what will remain of ourselves becomes more pressing. To some, the idea of having children fulfills this need to be remembered, while others search for something else, the creation of art, for example. In a way, it is also the images people have which will linger on for quite some time, perhaps even captured on film. Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-liang has shot many features and documentaries which can serve as a record of moments, places and people, what they leave behind and should be remembered for. His 2021 short documentary “The Moon and the Tree” is no exception, as it showcases how what makes a person special still remains and is just as beautiful, even though age has left its mark on our bodies.
The Moon and the Tree is screening at Black Movie
The feature follows singer Lee Beijing, who has been paralyzed for the majority of her life, and actor Chang Feng, who, at the time of shooting the feature, was nearly 100 years old. The 34 minutes of “The Moon and the Tree” show a day in the life of the singer, more specifically her physical therapy, from the morning exercises to taking a few tentative steps under the guidance of her nurse. However, before her part of the feature ends, we get to hear her sing a song about the moon. In the second part, Chang Feng is shown as he takes a walk in the forest, stopping by an enormous tree before he eventually returns home again.
As mentioned in the first paragraph, Tsai Ming-liang again blends personal memory and space, this time with his image of the two people at the core of his feature. The titular moon and tree are symbols for the singer and the actor, an image which shines perhaps even stronger than their age or their physical state. This certainly rings true with the performance of Lee Beijing who seemingly undergoes a transformation in these moments, beyond the physical limitations we have witnessed during the therapy. At the same time, this is when you will notice a change in tone and atmosphere within the feature, as it is directed at these moments, which, again, feel like a metamorphosis in a way.
Similar to his past features, Tsai Ming-liang uses long takes in order to present these moments. Given the duration of each shot, the documentary feels much less constructed and more like it is waiting for something. The individuals, Lee Beijing and Chang Feng, can be observed within these environments and what changes they are going through, adding a spiritual nature to the whole project, which again is what this director has been after in all of his features.
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“The Moon and the Tree” is a documentary about memory and change. Tsai Ming-liang uses his by now known aesthetic approach to make the audience aware of the passing of time, and how a moment, the sound of a voice or the sight of a tree, transforms people and our memories of them.
