*A conceptual film
"To control breathing is to control the mind. With different patterns of breathing, you can fall in love, you can hate someone, you can feel the whole spectrum of feelings just
by changing your breathing.”
- Marina Abramovic
Breathe is an experimental art video that reflects on the human condition in a romantic relationship. The film is narrated without dialogue; there is only breathing and ambience sound. Nothing detracts from the sensation of breathing.
In the film, two different scene sequences intersect: a series that features the romantic love development that is shown chronologically, and the aftermath of the breakup sequences shown in reverse order. The two sequences “meet” at the end of the film, producing a cohesive narrative.
Breathe opens with ambiance sounds. A single shot of air stewardess and security guard walking towards the boot of a cab and setting off on their journey to their destination. While it’s not explicitly explained, it’s quite clear that the boy is sending the girl to the airport. Throughout the entire ride, the couple exchanges what seem to be reserved and nervous glances and smiles. The scene then cuts to show the impact on one’s psychology after a breakup. At the end of the film, we return to the same scene as the opening – the boy and girl in the same cab heading to the airport.
The ending scene, which depicts the awkwardness after breakup (the end of love) mirrors with the opening scene of the film that portrays infatuation – the genesis of love. The attempt to juxtapose the two extreme emotions mirrors the variegated levels of reality.
The shots, often set up to be a symmetrical composition of the two protagonists, create a confrontational effect. This purposeful choreography engenders a sense of voyeurism, a vicarious living for the audience. Within these safe parameters, I invite the viewers to probe relationships between connection and separation, similarity and difference, image and self.
Direction: Ong Wei Ting
Producer: Ang Sze Yan
DOP: Lenny Leong
Camera Assistant: Cassie
Gaffer: Timothy
Talents: Chua Suqi, Derrick Lee
Producer: Ang Sze Yan
DOP: Lenny Leong
Camera Assistant: Cassie
Gaffer: Timothy
Talents: Chua Suqi, Derrick Lee
