Intentional Boredom in Goodbye, Dragon Inn (James DeLisio)

 

can you sit through this scene without getting bored? | Intentional Boredom in Goodbye, Dragon Inn
(YouTube) 5'34"
James DeLisio (26 June 2023)

Why is unproductive time wasted? Why is an unproductive body wasted? Tsai Ming Liang's 2003 film Goodbye, Dragon Inn is a hallmark in the world of slow cinema, one that demands patience from the viewer, and draws their attention to the act of viewing itself. In a world of rapidly accelerating media, Tsai has crafted a film that challenges the audience to consider what it means to sit still and watch something. Nowhere is this more clear than in the six-minute long take of an empty movie theater.