Film Review: Our Time Machine
© Our Time Machine, (2019) Dir. S. Leo Chiang, Sun Yung.
The ability of artful puppetry to arouse heightened emotional responses is undeniable and somewhat magical. Maybe it has to do with the willing suspension of disbelief required to allow non-human creations as substitutes for actors when dealing with painful and difficult situations. Whatever the alchemy, Our Time Machine is just about a perfect capsule containing the genres of generation, family, history, art and memory conveyed with intense urgency and deep respect using the medium of puppet theatre.
The framework of this highly personal theatrical production by the Chinese multi-faceted artist known as Maleonn began as an homage to his father, a famous and prolific director of opera. He directed productions for the Shanghai and Beijing Operas and is now retired and attempting to write his memoir. Alas, it is becoming increasingly difficult, as his memory is not cooperating. The play, which Maleonn has written is called Papa’s Time Machine and tells the story of his father’s life, which includes being interned during Mao’s Cultural Revolution and sent to work in the cotton fields with his wife, a popular actress. She became pregnant with Maleonn during that time as she discovered that pregnant women did not have to work as hard.
Both men are trying to capture and memorialize the life and accomplishments of the father for different ends. Maleonn is endeavoring to know and forge a relationship with his father who has been distant for most of his life, having been consumed by his work. This allows Maleonn to engage both of his parents in his project, which is a major undertaking. Maleonn and his team are building and creating the sets with fantastical flying creatures and life size puppets so exquisitely articulated that they can wordlessly evoke hyper real emotions. The dedicated team of craftsmen and puppet masters are fully engaged in every detail over a five year period, with limited funds and an uncertain path for a finished production. Watching the care and attention to the engineering that goes into creating these complex figures which become totally believable even as their puppetness is completely visible, is part of the wonder to be found in this engaging and uplifting film.
© Our Time Machine, (2019) Dir. S. Leo Chiang, Sun Yung.
The vicissitudes of financing his project, a promise made to his father, come into direct conflict with a deep wish to be able to provide for his aging parents. This is deeply disturbing to Maleonn and threatens to derail the project, which somehow is completed. In the process, Maleonn, who has been a bachelor all of his life ends up marrying his assistant director and having a baby. Ironically, becoming a husband and father seems to bring him closer to his parents even than the play. He gets enough perspective to be more empathetic and relishes the opportunity to introduce his new daughter to his forgetful father to renewed delight every time. This is simply a superb work of art which satisfies and inspires on every level. The music, lighting and cinematorgraphy are stunning. The only thing left to wish for is an opportunity to see a film of the entire play.
Streaming on POV.org through October.
