驅魔 · 1993

Exorcism

Chung Mong-hong · 9 min · Taiwan

In this short filmed during Chung Mong-hong's study in the United States, a giant cross hovers above, as floating images of the city segue into the vast expanse on the beach where an exorcism is underway, with people holding crosses and self-flagellating, contrasting with the skyline on the other side of the city, the nostalgia and alienation of the sojourner. During the exorcism, a voice-over relates the varied reactions of the bystanders. What is ‘exorcism’, and how do symbols, sounds and imagery relate to each other? In this highly experimental work, Chung compares the director’s montage with the process of exorcism, offering an alternative interpretation and reconstruction of the film’s structure and narrative.