A Journal of the Plague Year: Saturday Screenings #2
A primary point of departure for A Journal of the Plague Year and many of its artists is the portrayal of “the other” in pop-culture. Demonized or exoticized depictions of Asians and Asian Americans pervade popular films, both reflecting on and perpetuating racial and social inequalities. On Saturday April 11 and 18, a selection of relevant feature films will be screened during gallery hours. These films address the role of popular culture in the formation of modern societies and contributes to the exhibition’s critical discussion about xenophobia and recent history. Screenings: The World of Suzie Wong (1960) and Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959) explore the depictions of bi-racial romantic relationships in classic cinema. 2:30pm – The World of Suzie Wong (1960) directed by Richard Quine, with William Holden and Nancy Kwan. 126 minutes. American architect Robert Lomax relocates to Hong Kong to become a painter. He settles in a cheap hotel, but soon realizes the establishment is a hideout for prostitutes. Finding this to be source of inspiration, he eventually hires one of the prostitutes, Suzie Wong, to model for him. Lomax falls in love with her, but due to his limited means, unhappily can’t afford her exclusively. Trailer 5pm – Hiroshima, Mon Amour (1959) directed by Alain Resnais, with Emmanuelle Riva, Eiji Okada, Stella Dassas, Pierre Barbaud. 90 minutes. She and He had a brief affair and are now separating. During a 36-hour long period, a French actress and Japanese architect share their views on memory, amnesia, and war. Her experience of an occupied France is juxtaposed with his psychological trauma after the bombing of Hiroshima. They compare their failed relationships with warfare and the different perspectives of people inside and outside these incidents. Trailer