While it would make sense to say about most directors, it really makes little sense to say the following about Miike, but “The Bird People of China” is the most unusual film by Miike to date. There, I’ve said it and it makes no sense.

And yet it does.

When a saleryman is send from Tokyo to the Yun Nan province in China (possible the most remote and desolated place of China), to make sure there is jade in a jade mine, being accompanied by a yakuza officer, as the mining company borrowed money from the yakuza, they discover, apart from the mine, a world, where people believe in being able to fly.

Following the tradition of film about salerymen alienated by their own culture, finding their Asian roots in another country, “The Bird People of China”, based upon the novel by Shiina Makoto, and written by Nakumura, who has written some of the best Miike films, is a story about finding paradise lost and about finding ones inner self.

Miike begins the film in exaggerated tempo, only to slow it down gradually as the journey goes on and to end at a snail crawling pace for the films second half, talking place in the remote mountain village. To further stress time, Miike makes the journey be regressive in terms of technology, starting out with passenger jets, then car, then scooter and finally feet. Likewise Miike ends the film with a voice over taking place 30 years in the future, suggesting, the entire narrative to be a flashback.

Another important element is the cinematography. Yamamoto Hideo, who also shot ”Hana-bi” and has become the Miikes DoP, creates a colour scheme, where the second part of the film is shot thru a yellow filter, making the green mountain look jade-ish. This is easy one of the most beautiful films by Miike to look at.

Surprisingly many consider this Miike’s best film. While I think “Young Thugs: Nostalgia” is better, I can easily understand why, as this is a film that will spellbind its viewers and make them feel the magic of the bird people.

Henrik Sylow