Film Details
Synopsis
Half way through Woof Wan-Bau's short film, Watermelon Love, delicate tendrils surge out of a girl's eyes, and square watermelons quickly bloom on the ends of the vines. The image is exquisite, and continues an often-used image in Wan-Bau's work, of things streaming and growing from eyes. It's an effective sight, as the eyes are blinded and become feelers, reaching out to touch the world rather than watching it.
Remaining obtuse, but intriguingly, beguilingly so, the film opens with a girl standing in a red room. Everything is red, her short, sleazy slip, her hair, her blushing cheeks. I was waiting, she says. She coyly strokes her hair. From the bottom of the screen, a watermelon appears. She picks it up and strokes it's smooth green surface. She places the watermelon at the foot of the bed, then disappears behind a screen saying, please, wait here a moment.
At this point the film slips into a surreal world of watermelon juice and square watermelons. Breathy voices sing, "Watermelon Love" as the watermelons burst forth from her eyes.
The film draws on the watermelon as an important symbol of sexuality in Chinese culture, but the surreal element is less obviously metaphorical. Watermelon Love is inexplicable, seductive, and very, very cool.
Sarinah Masukor, Portable Contributor
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