-Written by Kyle Bain.
2025 SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
An elderly couple struggles with the inevitability that the Alzheimer’s that has infiltrated their lives has altered them forever. As the disease continues to worsen, the couple is forced to deal with the pain and suffering that comes with it. Banr begs the question: does love conquer all?
With my ADHD, I inevitably look away from the screen every once in a while during my viewing. When it comes to foreign films, that can make things challenging–as I potentially miss valuable dialogue. Banr employs such powerful actors that I never worried about this, I was never concerned that I’d miss something, as their performances were so compelling and so effective that I could easily infer based on the inflection in their voices and understand the tone and the very situation in which they found themselves.
With that, everything comes across as genuine, and there were times when I became overstimulated and frustrated by the repeated phrases and aggressive score. This is simply a fact, something that will happen to others and make the viewing experience a bit more challenging than anticipated. However, these aspects of Banr are purposeful, and they play a significant role in the film’s narrative.
Writer-Director Erica Xia-Hou, along with her filming and editing team allow the camera and the angles used to become almost invasive, creating something akin to the experience of this elderly couple and their challenging situation. And, yet, there is something of a disconnect here. I’m struggling to place my finger on what exactly causes this disconnect. Banr includes wonderful cinematography, talented actors, and a compelling narrative–all the marks of an enjoyable and immersive experience. The only thing I can think of is the language barrier, the challenge that it posed in trying to fully understand and appreciate the dialogue. The dialogue may have lost a bit of depth as a result of this–but that’s not Banr’s fault. The unfortunate reality is that aspects of Banr will be lost on some viewers as a result of the language barrier–and while that doesn’t necessarily detract from the brilliance of the film, that is the reality of this film.
The final minutes of the film, however, are different. Xia-Hou and her team develop emotion in a way that’s simply impeccable. I was drawn closer to tears with nearly every word, and Banr thrives in these closing moments. Everything converges here, pulling pieces together from every act of the film, piecing them together in a way that sees the film concluding in the most effective way possible.
I wish that I hadn’t felt such a disconnect through the majority of the film, and while things come around by Banr’s conclusion, an hour and a half of the film was a bit troublesome for me. I don’t want anyone reading this to feel as if I didn’t appreciate Banr, because that couldn’t be further from the truth. The narrative is effective, the actors are brilliant, and the cinematography is so incredibly immersive that I often felt that I was there. There is a lot to love about Banr, I just know that many (like me) will feel trapped on an island from time to time as a result of the language barrier–and it will struggle to reach the massive audience that it deserves to as a result.
Written & Directed by Erica Xia-Hou.
Starring Erica Xia-Hou, Sui Li, & Baoqing Li.
7/10 = WATCH IT FOR FREE
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