Q&A

I like to stay for the Q&A after a film. This, however, does not mean that I like to have the “author” answer my questions and “enter into a dialogue.” In fact, I almost ask question and absolutely never as question about the intention or the film itself. It seems an insult to ask and “author” to explain his intention or his work; it is like saying, “you spent all this time, both yours and mine, and you still have not said what you wanted to say. Now, you have a second chance, make the best of it.” If a piece needs its creator to explain it, it failed. This is not to say the “author” does not usually try to explain. This explaining is usually about controlling the meaning, out of regret, failure, outside pressure, sex, whatever, not contributing to the work in question. Even out of the best of intentions, the “author” is almost always the worst person to do the interpretation. If the author has left things unsaid, well, he should have put it in. If he did not put it in, then it is not part of the work in question. Plus, the author only sees what he wanted to say consciously. What is said is always much more than this conscious effort. The unconscious part is precisely what makes it interesting, makes it art, makes it meaningful, elevate it above plenitude. What is interesting in the Q&A is therefore not anything about meaning and the work but psychology, the psychology of the director and the audience. A film, say, has a scene where water buffalos are stolen. Someone asks if buffalo stealing is common in the area the film is made. If it were a film about crime rate, this question may be somewhat relevant. But when the film is about the owner’s despair, the buffalos can any essential thing in the life of the character. In this case, unfortunately, it is the latter situation. Apparently the questioner is somehow fixated on a trivial matter in the film. The fun is to watch the director trying very hard to muster up all his self-control to answer the question. It is as dramatic as good short film: The Unbearable Lightness of the Scatter Brain Audience.