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The Secret Life of Buildings (2011)
The role of architecture and the playful lives of people
I don't think this needs a spoiler alert because the program isn't a narrative but a documentary about social issues related to architecture. However, the filmmakers' take a particular and perhaps controversial position that isn't readily apparent from the title. So if discovering this point of view before watching it is a spoiler for you, then please do not read further.
"The Secret Life of Buildings" focuses both on work spaces and on the vital human need for play and how that has almost disappeared from modern public buildings where people are dazzled and stimulated by unique structures that leave them empty, confused, distressed and ultimately alienated.
The series looks at a number of different types of buildings and architects. It explores how people interact or are unable to interact with the building and with each other. The viewers are introduced to a number of exciting projects and buildings, some of which have been able to combine function with meaningful work spaces.
There are interviews with top architects, including Gehry, Koolhaus, Foster and Hadid. This program takes a strong stance against the ways buildings, especially the latest, flashiest, architect-as-artist buildings, undermine the social spaces people need in order to be fully human.
Pai an jing qi (1975)
Early and very small role for Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan is in this movie, billed as Chen Yuan-Lung. He made this movie right before he left Hong Kong, and the movie industry, for Australia. This would probably be rated R, because of some brief nudity and sex scenes.
The film consists of three unrelated stories. The first is about the Chinese game, Mah Jongg, and the attraction it has for Hong Kong people. The first story also contains two other stories within it. The first one tells about the difficulties of trying to play Mah Jongg during the Japanese occupation, and the other tells of an historical tale of how the Mah Jongg tiles were invented.
The second story is the one in which Jackie Chan has a small a role. This one is a mystery drama that unfolds in flashback format. There is very little that can be said about this story that wouldn't be something of a spoiler.
The last story involves a screenwriter and director, who just happen to have the same names as those who made this movie. Ultimately, there is another story within a story, and they are shown making a movie which is a spoof on the Bruce Lee clone movies of the 1970's. This one has a fake Bruce Lai, starring in the movie within a movie called "Bruce Lai vs. Zaitoichi".
One nice thing about this movie, is that it introduces almost all the characters and gives the English names for the cast. Since there are a lot of familiar faces in the movie, this film can be used as a visual reference for HK actors of that era. I counted more than 30 names given.
This film is subtitled. It is from the time when the subtitles, as well as the movie, were cropped to fit the TV screen, but they really do help.
The stories are interesting in and of themselves, especially if you want to know more about the Hong Kong of the mid-1970's. Although, it is probably true that I wouldn't have tracked this film down, if Jackie Chan hadn't had a connection to it, I think I can honestly say that a serious follower of Hong Kong film would find this to be worth watching, irrespective of whether Jackie had played a role in it.