YEAR ONE
2023
33 MINS DRAMA/SCI-FI/MYSTERY
WRITER/DIRECTOR Corey Tian
Amidst a misty dawn, a man perches upon the window sill, captivated by an otherworldly melody, sounding like an alien bird's haunting cry echoing in the void. Dismissing it as his acousma, he shares the space with Asa, his terminally ill partner. Aware of her impending fate, Asa embraces her final days with a melancholic grace, her visage a fleeting portrait of sorrow.
As the protests of the Militia intensify, edging towards violent conflict, the man remains indifferent, having surrendered to the inexorable decline of their romance. Outwardly stoic, inwardly numb, he has lost the ability to feel.
Parallelly adrift in self-isolation, an artist appears severed from the world, using art to recreate dreams entwined with memories, the boundaries blurred beyond recognition. To the man, they suggest that the mysterious melody the man hears is an oracle from the unknown.
Later, on a rooftop, the man and Asa gaze upon a dystopian cityscape beneath a cold steel forest. The Militia's shouts fade against the city's depths, where an explosion's roar suddenly emerges. Beneath an eerie orange sky, the entire world advances into chaos, and under its surreal hue, the man descends into a powerless silence. What if everything is but an elaborate dream? Asked by three solitary souls. Estranged from the changing world, they find refuge in the sanctuary of their own dreams.
Trailer
DIRECTOR STATEMENT
In the creation of "Year One,” I draw from personal experiences, notably the philosophical contemplation sparked by the loss of a loved one. The narrative encapsulates my journey of self-discovery as a nihilist, navigating the complexities of societal alienation.
The film unfolds within a dream-like realm, exploring the convergence of love, existence, and mortality amidst an incipient social change. The exploration extends to the fundamental questions surrounding art and identity.
Embracing a slow-cinema approach, the film adopts a poetic narrative inspired by filmmakers like Tsai Ming-Liang and Apichatpong Weerasethakul. While the deliberate pacing may challenge conventional tastes, it aims to offer an immersive viewing experience, enhanced by carefully framed and lit shots resembling oil paintings.
Set in a dystopian near-future, "Year One" aims to be an otherworldly spectacle, fusing slow-cinema aesthetics with a psychedelic visual style, providing a thought-provoking lens into the intersection of personal and societal dynamics.
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