Experiencing a foreign country, facing difficulties alone, and not understanding the language can evoke feelings of loneliness and helplessness. In 2023, the Cinematographer and filmmaker Han Wang’s film Alone poignantly showcased these emotions through the experiences of an individual in unfamiliar surroundings. Despite its brief eighteen-minute duration, the film has received 2023 Los Angeles Film Award – Best Docudrama and nominations at numerous film festivals, affirming not only the talent of the actors but also honoring the contributions of everyone behind the scenes.
The film centers on the life of an elderly Chinese woman and her grandson living in the United States. As the film opens, the grandson prepares a list of groceries for his grandmother, advising her to take care of herself before he leaves with friends. As the film’s name Alone, the grandmother spends her evening dining solo, reading the newspaper on the sofa, and eventually falling asleep. The next day, a neighbor informs her of her grandson’s unsuccessful attempts to reach her by phone. Discovering the home phone service is disconnected, the grandmother resolves to pay the bill herself. Her limited English proficiency, however, complicates this task, and she manages to succeed only with the neighbor’s assistance.
Conveying a director’s message in a mere ten minutes is challenging, yet Han Wang skillfully uses his lens to immerse the audience in the film, allowing them to connect deeply with the grandmother’s experiences. Initially, Wang captures the elderly woman seated on the sofa, engrossed in a Chinese newspaper, setting the stage for her character as someone who does not speak English. This scene lays the groundwork for the story’s progression.
Wang then directs the camera to a post-it note and a photo left by the grandson on the refrigerator. The grandmother’s interaction with her grandson’s photo reflects her love, dependence, and yearning. When she attempts to pay the phone bill alone, Wang focuses on her despair as she sits helplessly on the ground outside the store, struggling to understand the bill. Through the use of music and cinematography, the film reaches a climax, highlighting the elderly woman’s profound sense of isolation in a foreign land.
In this film, Wang’s expertise in lens usage, attention to detail, and character portrayal deeply immerses the audience in the elderly woman’s solitary inner world. Through changes in lighting, shadow, and camera angles, warm memories are skillfully woven into the narrative, allowing viewers to empathize with her feelings. Wang’s photography transcends the depiction of solitary living conditions for the elderly, exploring themes of family, love, and companionship with depth and sensitivity.
