Chosen
dir. Ang Lee · 2001
Feature
Cultural Dislocation
Mood
Tense / Dark
Look
stark contrasts of light and shadow, claustrophobic urban environments
Structure
linear progression with escalating tension
Plot
The Driver is carrying an Asian child who has been chosen for a strange ritual. He must drive him through a dark night in the city to get to a monk's house, while eluding several American cars out to get the child.
Why watch
"Chosen" is a gripping exploration of cultural dislocation and existential dread, where a driver must navigate a treacherous urban landscape to protect a child marked for a dark ritual. With its relentless pacing and stark visual contrasts, this film immerses viewers in a nightmarish journey that challenges the boundaries of identity and belonging.
Cultural context
post-9/11 anxietiesAsian representation in Western cinemaurban isolation in contemporary society