Perhaps I should first clarify that this is indeed a Japanese film, despite the title and the fact that The Bird People in China was shot primarily in China. The lead characters do speak Japanese throughout the movie.
The Bird People in China proves that not all of China has been irreversibly polluted (yet).
I was hoping for an unusual film when I selected this title for viewing, and I was not disappointed.
Everything I read about The Bird People in China always started out by explaining this was not an unpleasantly violent film like most of Japanese director Takashi Miike’s work. Many who have seen this movie seem intent on letting potential viewers know it is not a typical and perversely gory Miike film.
The Bird People in China sounded like it might be the one Takashi Miike movie suited to my sensibilities. I decided to give it a chance and I’m glad I did.
A meditative winged ritual provides an interesting visual in The Bird People in China.
The Bird People in China is a serene and peaceful story overall. There is some aggression and violence revolving around a yakuza character, but it seems minimal and reasonable for the story.
The Bird People in China starts out as a road trip movie that begins in Japan and results with the discovery and exploration of a hidden Eden within China. A businessman and yakuza henchman are paired together on a trip they both would rather not take as the story begins. A mystery is encountered in the very idyllic, isolated community they discover. As you might imagine, the mystery revolves around… bird people. The details of that mystery are definitely best left to be discovered through viewing the film.
Former Japanese pop singer Masahiro Motoki, in the role of Wada, about to depart for an unexpected and very unusual adventure.
Since there might be a few whitewater kayakers reading this review as a result of finding their way from my adventure oriented independent film production website, I will mention that The Bird People in China contains a few fascinating and massive, flood stage river scenes in China.
And for the podcast enthusiasts out there, the main lead in this movie documents his experiences with a portable cassette recorder, similarly to how a soundseeing podcast episode might be recorded. One of the recordings becomes important to the development of the story, though the film definitely takes liberties with the potential self-rejuvenation properties of dying batteries.
I have spent quite a bit of time in China for a variety of reasons, but the filth and pollution in the cities there has discouraged me from being eager to return for pleasure trips. Unlike Japan where I could live happily for the rest of my life, China for me is only a place for visiting, preferably for no more than a few weeks at a time maximum. Watching The Bird People in China helped remind me that I may still want to risk visiting China a time or two more to experience some of the beautiful remote areas I have not yet seen.
I really enjoyed this curious film. It may be too slow paced for film enthusiasts who thrive on movies such as those Miike is more famous for, but I think the pacing here provides more time to enjoy and appreciate the beautiful scenery and unusual story.
Extras
The commentary track from English speaker Tom Mes, who is apparently a big fan of Takashi Miike’s horror/terror films, reinforces a point I just touched on in the Rashomon review, that recording a compelling commentary track is difficult when the person doing it was not involved in the production of the film being discussed.
It is nice that an effort was made to find someone to add commentary in English. Tom Mes seems like a pleasant enough fellow in this commentary recording, but you would likely need to be an obsessive commentary listener like me to make it all the way through The Bird People in China’s commentary track.
A more interesting tidbit to look for on the DVD is the computer generated turtle brigade that pulls a raft through a very wild river. The whole notion of the turtles serving in this fashion and how they could possibly be recovered when lost is absolutely ludicrous, but it doesn’t really disturb the movie. The entire turtle scenario somehow seems acceptable in this little fable, though it is a bit startling when those CGI turtles show up in the brief underwater scene. I am sure I’m not the only person who skips back a bit with their remote to re-watch that completely unexpected short visual.
For Japanese Language Students
I found the Japanese very listenable in this movie, and I was able to pick out quite a bit of dialogue considering I am at a beginner level as of this viewing. The Bird People in China is a modern story with modern dialogue between the Japanese characters, even if they are in an “ancient” place. The relaxed pace of the film may also facilitate listening by providing a little time to absorb what you are hearing.
Final Notes
This could be a good film for introducing a “non-enthusiast” to Japanese cinema. It really is more about nature and a charming mystery than it is about the intricacies of Japanese culture. This movie might also be a great recommendation for someone studying Japanese, a general travel enthusiast, or an ecologically minded person.
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Dan Savage [Email]
The Bird People in China
Entertainment Value: Excellent
Listening Practice: Very Good
The Bird People in China is available through Netflix.
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