What I call 'Contemplative Cinema'

Hello everyone I am back. I feel like I am somewhat alone in this where my age group is concerned. I am a fan of contemplative films.

In my mind, the idea of contemplative film is a film that asks questions but takes its time to find its answer. In most cases, it never does. I can't really give you a reason to watch these kinds of films in the way that you might expect. These films aren't about an external conflict necessarily like how Thanos was in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or the Joker in The Dark Knight, or even in non-comic book films like the Mission Impossible films.

Haley Lu Richardson and Justin Min in After Yang (2021).

Contemplative films aren't really restricted by genre. They are most commonly blended within the Drama genre, but really they can weave through a variety of genres like Science Fiction for instance. Like After Yang (2021).

The point of a contemplative film is rather not the point. The best and most effective way I've found to truly watch and enjoy a film like this is to not assume just because it's a slow film, it's bad. Furthermore, it's a type of film where you need to let go and breathe. I know that sounds odd but it's the best way I can think of to really articulate my point. Sometimes watching it and letting go of the chaos inside our minds will leave us a blank canvas on which the film we watch will paint a picture.

Columbus (2017).

It's not lazy to have a film without answers. We never have the answers. Not in film, not in life, not in anything. So why do we constantly expect answers to be spelt out for us as if we were wide-eyed children?

The beauty of Contemplative Cinema to me is not the revelation of the answer itself but rather the journey to finding them. The adventure of the soul. Films like these are more than just pretentious "fancy" cinema. They are expressions of art by people who like everyone else in this world, question things around them. The meaning of life, the whys and hows of life and love. The grief and loss we as humans experience. These filmmakers take on these types of films so that they can ask those questions in new and beautiful ways.

Kogonada (left) and John Cho (right) on the set of Columbus (2017).

I'll be the first to admit that I didn't always feel this way. My eyes were only opened to the idea of slow cinema a couple of years ago, and now here I am entertaining the idea of "Contemplative Cinema". So I don't claim to be an expert on the subject. But I feel strongly that films like these which are often shoved into the "Arthouse" side of films and forgotten about, need to be pushed to the forefront more often. I think watching and rewatching these films can make for quite a deep and profound experience.

That's me puking my thoughts out for the day! Thanks for reading! If you genuinely have an opinion to add to this by all means drop a comment.