Yi Yi (A One and a Two...)

Edward Yang's acclaimed 2000 work
use of master shots with depth, in each scene barely change angles
few exceptions, some cross-cutting for isolation, but generally these master shots
nothing too long though, short scenes; not ostentatious
and that is really the theme here; demdramatized
camera very much seems to observe with its stillness, a kind of coldness
action off screen
further, the use of clothes fitting into backgrounds,
and some decentered framing
the key is drawing the eye (with movement) to two parts of the shot simultaneously; means the viewer studies the screen, the whole screen, taking attention away (with lights as well) from the putative 'centre' of the action
this is clearly all pretty Antonioni like, but without that directors residual beauty
this is (digital film enhancing) a deliberately dead film, no beauty, just characters pushed around by things outside of them. No grandeur
use of repetition nicely underlines this, showing at once a kind of cyclical
stupidity
no beauty not entirely true; an ice cold use of windows, reflections, and shining light do add something to some scenes...
an austere film, yet at once a family story. The acting isn't underplayed, and really rather a lot happens, it's a huge family saga 'Il Gattopardo' style, that for this century
but the overall themes are of dislocation, coldness, and a sympathy that can't really be extended
not the fireworks of Antonioni with space and so on, far more low key and simple
but an interesting, intelligent, and timely film.