MAN IN BLACK

In the half-light of a deserted theatre an old man strides forward, completely naked. Slowly, he danc- es and sings. Wang Xilin is one of China’s greatest contemporary composers, sent to a re-education camp during the Cultural Revolution. This ultra-violent reform of thought scarred his body, traumatised his memory and populated his symphonies. Wang Bing has created a disconcerting film, quite apart from the rest of his filmography, which is nevertheless recognizable by the radicality in its approach. Shot at the Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord in Paris, ‘Man in Black’ is an intense cinematic experience, an artistic gesture in itself.