Soundless Wind Chime (Hong Kong)

This film is a mish mash of reality and illusion. There’s a lot going on beneath Soundless Wind Chime’s stylish, deliberately arty surface. Unfortunately, it’s the filmmaker who’ll probably get the most out of Soundless Wind Chime, and not his audience due to the fact that his intentions are too unfocused, and aren’t bridged to the audience effectively. The main aspect that might draw you away is an attempt to blur the boundaries of reality, memories and imagination.

Ricky works at a local restaurant and delivers food. One day he meets a swiss guy Pascal who was being abused by his gay partner. Pascal is now on street with no money left. Ricky brings him home with him. Things are fine and they move out and start living together. The speed with which their relationship was going strong, it comes down with the same speed. The film clearly does not show the reasons for why this happens but there is clearly a rift. One day Pascal does in an accident. Ricky leaves Hong Kong for Switzerland to find the lost soul and the past of his dead lover, Pascal. He faces a struggle of memories, reality and illusion on his dreamlike journey. When he visits a beautiful thrift store, Rickey meets Ueli, a man that looks identical to Pascal, but has a totally different personality. Whether he is Pascal or not is left for the viewers to decide. Ricky faces a struggle of memories, reality and illusion on his dreamlike journey.

This whole aspect of reality vs imagination left me totally confused. Plus some things were just not explained right. What made the 2 men come so close to each other and why did their relationship start deteriorating. In addition scenes of Hong Kong and Switzerland were intercepted so sometimes it was hard to keep a track. I think in an attempt o make something lovable and poetic, the director lost his vision or the execution of the vision.

Wish I could understand what was going on. (3.5/10)