Ascent

Ascent by Fiona Tan is a reflection on Japan's Mount Fuji, endlessly captured on film and photographs. Helen de Witt, London Film Festival programmer, wrote about the film:

‘The beautiful and mysterious Mount Fuji is the site for an adventure of the imagination for a Western female writer and her soulful male Japanese correspondent. We go on a metaphorical journey with them up the mountain, crossing geographical, temporal and cultural divides. Employing a collection of dazzlingly varied still images spanning the history of photography, the mountain becomes a breathtaking cultural monolith, inspiring the writer to uncover different paths and to muse on the significance of its dominant presence in Japanese history, religion and philosophy. By combining fiction and documentary, the film is able to explore the intersections between Japanese and Western art and popular culture, from Van Gogh’s passion to the perspectival simplicity of Japanese designs to Hokusai’s woodblock print of The Wave. Evoking both the insight and lyricism of Chris Marker’s Sans Soleil and the emotional complexity of Alain Resnais’ Hiroshima Mon Amour, Fiona Tan’s wonderful film captures the paradox of existing in time and space without movement. Profound stillness.’

Prior to this screening, at 19:15, Fiona Tan will discuss her work with Marcella Lista, Chief Curator of New Media at Centre Pompidou. Tickets for this programme are available separately.