Close-Up
DirectorJia Zhangke
“In a situation where surveillance close-ups isolate a vulnerable individual from his surroundings, Jia asks us to re-evaluate that space, to give that situation a new meaning. To think about what film is. Perhaps we might then be able to rediscover others.”
In Close-Up, Jia explores the counterpart to the wide shot. Four elevated surveillance cameras scan a busy traffic intersection, capturing the steady stream of cars, bikes and pedestrians that cross it. Amid all that bustle and movement, a fifth camera with a long telephoto lens picks out one individual. A man with a bandaged hand. A wide shot changes into a close-up. Visitors have the freedom to choose their own context and focus. They can even tell the story of this man. HD video installation on 5 screens, colour, silent
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