2014年TIDF由活動統籌吳凡策劃的「記錄X記憶:訪談(Documemory: Interview)」單元,企圖討論記錄片中「記憶」與「真實」的關係,該年的切入點為紀錄片中常見的創作手法——訪談。片單挑選了導演克勞德・朗茲曼的兩部作品,其一是被喻為影史最偉大的紀錄片《浩劫》(1985),以及續作《浩劫:未竟審判(The Last of the Unjust)》(2013)。
克勞德・朗茲曼出生於1925年,在一個東歐移民法國的猶太家庭裡長大,二次大戰期間積極參與地下抗德工作。他在1950年代與哲學家沙特(Jean-Paul Sartre)與西蒙波娃(Simone de Beauvoir)成為戰友,並曾與西蒙波娃有過一段同居戀情。1986年起接任《現代》雜誌(Les Temps Modernes)總編輯,是重要的知識份子。他從1970年開始拍攝紀錄片,所有影片關注納粹大屠殺的真相與其對後世的影響。除了曾獲得法國政府頒發榮譽軍團勳章、柏林國際影展的榮譽金熊獎⋯⋯,其代表作《浩劫》更多次在各種國際票選中,寫入史上最偉大紀錄片之列。
創立於1989年的山形國際紀錄片影展(Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival,YIDFF),是亞洲第一個以紀錄片為主的國際影展。創始者之一的傳奇導演小川紳介,當年邀請了來自亞洲各地重要的紀錄片導演共同發表宣言,奠定其走向與重要性。此後,山形影展每兩年舉辦一次,至2017年正式邁入第十五屆,而該影展也早已成為亞洲導演最嚮往的紀錄片聖地。
年輕導演陳梓桓以攝影機記錄下自身參與雨傘運動的經驗和觀察,深情訴說著年輕世代對香港的愛與擔憂。正如著名電影理論家David Bordwell對此片的評論:「看著這部令人心碎又充滿希望的電影,你會驕傲香港有這樣的年輕人。就像一直以來,學生們代表的正直與正義。(You feel proud of the young people ofHong Kong while watching this heartbreaking, hopeful film. As often happens, the students were both righteous and right.)」
其說話方式不是「第一人稱」,而是以「第三人稱」的口吻展開。也就是說,吳念真在片中代表的並不是「我(個人)」,其個人性被抹除後,反而讓影片旁白的使用,更接近許多宣傳片慣用的「上帝之音(voice of God)」手法,帶有權威感的解釋性旁白,再加上《看見台灣》空拍的特殊角度,影片漸漸營造出一種「全知觀點」。
在2012整年度中,最令大家議論紛紛的,莫過於金馬獎最佳紀錄片的頒獎結果。在破天荒有四部紀錄片入圍的情況下(往年最多都只有三部),得獎呼聲較高,受到許多觀眾喜愛的台灣片《牽阮的手》(2011)、《麵包情人》(2011)、《時間之旅》皆鎩羽而歸 ,獲獎的是加拿大華裔導演張僑勇的作品《千錘百鍊》(China Heavy Weight),他的舊作《沿江而上》(Up the Yangtze)在2008年時也曾獲同一獎項。
也就是說,吳念真在片中代表的並不是「我(個人)」,其個人性被抹除後,反而讓影片旁白的使用,更接近許多宣傳片慣用的「上帝之音(voice of God)」手法,即從畫面之外傳來(不知是誰,與畫面也無關),帶有權威感的解釋性旁白,再加上《看見台灣》空拍的特殊角度,影片漸漸營造出一種「全知觀點」,亦回應了「站得不夠高」這樣的說法。(但誰有能力能夠站那麼高?站這麼高的意義為何?)
-- Statement of being Chinese Documentary Festival first round jury It is my fortune to be on the first round of jury selection of the documentary shorts this year. I saw many shorts from Taiwan, Hong Kong and mainland China, and discovered unique characteristics from each region. Mainland Chinese directors often describe people’s livelihood and social problems. However, other than emphasising the respective themes of their works, many directors deliberately accompany their films with emotive music, inevitably arousing audience’s suspicion on the films’ general mentality and point of view. Comparatively, Nature’s Kid, which delineates the lives of the children living Buddhas in Tibet, is more sincere and down-to-earth. It allows people to see the preciousness of childhood naivete and religiosity. The film Little Proletarian looks at a group of rowdy youngsters, and is made almost entirely with an observational approach. Through the indeliberate lens, the film has revealed the gaps across generations, concretely and intricately presenting the many current problems of China. Hong Kong shorts focus on the issue of recognising its identity and its nation state. I was most enchanted by Tsang Tsui Shan’s Summer Rain. Unlike the usual documentaries, Summer Rain does not strictly record actuality, it does not necessarily need to be narrated chronologically, but is unfolded by the director’s personal sentiments inspired by her solitary stay in a foreign country. There are playacting, interviews and confessions. The various forms of presentation within the film have struck an appropriate balance, and can enable a discussion of where the “self” belongs to. In the Taiwanese category, ShenKo-shang’s A Rolling Stone has virtually entered into a family with an autistic adult son. Through eyes that are almost cold, we see the helplessness and madness of a father; Lin Ying-tso’s Stray Dog depicts a middle-aged man who is immersed in local literary and historical work. Through the director’s refined portrayal, the dignity and the soul of the character has become infinitely moving, light and tasteful. Although there are quite a few outstanding works mentioned above, the overall quality of this year’s submitted films is still merely fair. The films’ perspectives and forms are too conformed. Although documentary’s foremost concern is to document reality, but on the other hand, how the director treats reality and reveals the story are equally important. My thoughts as a jury member this time is also what a viewer is hoping for.