Tsai Ming-liang presents ‘Dust’ at Venice Film Festival

Tsai Ming-liang has presented his film ‘Dust’ (Weichen), the eleventh installment of his ‘Walker’ series, at the Venice Film Festival within the Venice Open – Non-fiction section.

The film follows a monk, portrayed by Lee Kang-sheng, as he walks through the Basque city of San Sebastián, Spain. Dressed in a purple or red tunic, the character moves at a slow pace through various settings, including the Peine del Viento, the Chillida Leku open-air museum, and local rock clubs.

Drawing inspiration from the Buddhist monk Xuanzang and the Diamond Sutra, the film explores themes of the illusory nature of matter and thought. The cinematography contrasts the slow, rhythmic movement of the monk against the modern urban environment and the static sculptures of Eduardo Chillida.