TheSpaceofAng!Lee’s Pushing(Hands
1
The
Space
of
Ang
Lee's
Pushing
Hands
By
Christopher
Heron
for
The
Seventh
Art
Pushing
Hands
is
the
first
film
from
Taiwanese
filmmaker
Ang
Lee,
though
it
exhibits
several
themes
that
would
recur
throughout
his
varied
filmography,
including
the
figure
of
the
outsider
and
the
cultural
and
communal
function
of
food.
The
film's
story
modestly
concerns
a
Taiwanese
grandfather
and
t'ai
chi
master,
Chu,
living
with
his
son
(Alex),
American
daughter--in--law
(Martha),
and
grandson
(Jeremy)
in
New
York.
The
somewhat
antagonistic
relationship
between
Martha
and
Chu
is
central
to
the
story,
exhibiting
the
tensions
that
exist
between
two
individuals
completely
rooted
in
separate
cultures
living
in
relatively
close
quarters,
while
Alex
and
his
son
move
more
freely
between
the
two.
Lee
explores
this
tension
through
a
series
of
visual
motifs
that
pertain
to
space
and
bodies
existing
in
that
space:
fluid
camera
movement,
doorways
and
interior
frames,
sunlight
and
moonlight,
and
the
movement
and
interaction
of
hands.
The
repetition
and
variation
of
these
techniques
and
symbols
follow
the
detachment
between
two
cultures,
the
xenophobic
hostility
that
occurs
initially,
and
finally
the
ultimate
harmony
achieved
through
open--minded
cultural
communication.
The
opening
scene
of
the
film
elegantly
introduces
the
central
characters
and
their
conflict,
and
also
emphasizes
the
importance
of
space
to
the
story
and
the
film.
The
importance
of
t'ai
chi
to
Chu
is
established,
as
is
the
conflict
it
creates
for
Martha's
writing
process.
However,
t'ai
chi
is
visually
coded
as
a
freeing,
exhilarating
experience
through
fluid,
dramatic
camera
movements
that
are
paired
only
with
this
act
in
the
film.
The
cross--
cutting
between
this
and
Martha
trying
to
write
exhibits
the
difference
in
culture,
which
is
2
further
confirmed
by
the
use
of
these
fluid
camera
movements
in
two
other
instances
where
Chu
is
situated
in
the
Chinese
cultural
institution.
This
is
not
to
say
that
this
freedom
exists
only
in
Chinese
culture,
but
rather
when
the
environment
around
Chu
and
its
inhabitants
consent
to
this
use
of
space.
When
Chu
elects
to
move
out
of
Martha
and
Alex's
house
and
take
a
job
in
the
kitchen
of
a
Chinese
restaurant,
there
are
no
similar
movements.
It
is
instead
present
only
in
the
hopes
of
or
by--product
of
harmony
with
one's
surroundings.
Indeed,
even
in
one
of
the
positive
instances
at
the
cultural
centre,
there
is
a
moment
where
Chu
jeopardizes
his
use
of
the
space
through
not
appreciating
the
effect
he
has
on
others'
use
of
the
space.
When
Chu
is
engaging
in
t'ai
chi,
the
space
surrounding
him
is
always
visually
established
?
it
requires
that
space.
In
this
instance,
wide
shots
are
shown
repeatedly
as
two
students
challenge
the
master,
conveying
a
sense
of
tension
with
the
knowledge
that
a
group
of
women
are
sitting
in
the
periphery.
The
concept
of
pushing
hands
refers
to
how
the
energy
of
the
challenger
is
used
against
him
or
her
in
when
trying
to
unbalance
the
master.
This
scene
comically
builds
towards
the
inevitable
outcome
of
the
larger
individual
being
pushed
the
farthest
and
into
the
ladies.
The
lack
of
space
at
Martha
and
Alex's
home
is
similarly
a
problem
and
Martha's
complaint
of
a
lack
of
space
becomes
a
refrain.
Yet
space
is
also
a
metaphor
for
a
cultural
distance,
which
is
best
conveyed
in
the
blocking
of
the
dinner
sequence.
Space
is
collapsed
in
many
of
the
shots
of
this
potentially
happy
domestic
gathering,
but
the
reality
of
the
distance
between
characters
is
always
reiterated.
Following
this
scene,
Alex
pointedly
acknowledges
that
the
problem
is
not
simply
Chu,
as
may
be
believed
due
to
Martha's
role
as
the
main
character
and
audience
avatar,
but
that
neither
Martha
nor
Chu
will
learn
the
other's
language.
3
The
difference
between
the
two
individuals
and
the
impasse
in
their
sharing
in
each
other's
cultures
is
most
clearly
conveyed
through
the
use
of
interior
frames,
most
significantly
doorways.
In
these
instances,
the
doorway
signifies
the
threshold
that
exists
between
one
space
and
another,
which
is
not
passed
by
either
party.
These
are
significantly
used
to
establish
the
competition
for
space
between
Chu
and
Martha
and
the
knowledge
of
one
another's
presence
adjacent
to
the
other.
Chu's
calligraphy
is
significantly
set
beside
various
opening
passages,
a
reminder
of
his
integration
into
Martha's
space
that
extends
to
her
son
Jeremy's
drawing
on
the
fridge.
Chu
is
forced
to
smoke
outside,
but
irritatingly
keeps
the
door
open,
framing
him
both
apart
and
always
within
the
world
of
Martha,
who
reads
silently
in
the
right
of
the
frame.
When
Alex
has
his
crisis
in
the
bathroom,
the
fragmentation
of
the
space
through
the
doorway
speaks
to
the
fragmentation
that
is
occurring
within
the
family,
manifest
in
the
neutral
Alex's
breakdown.
Finally,
the
doorways
align
into
a
single
frame
when
Alex
laments
Chu's
departure,
recognizing
the
possibility
for
these
detached
spaces
to
form
a
pathway,
something
not
realized
visually
prior
to
this
point.
Meanwhile,
another
interior
frame
grants
access
to
the
two
diverging
interests
of
Chu
and
Martha.
The
computer
is
a
locus
for
the
artistry
of
Martha,
while
the
television
acts
as
a
portal
to
Chu's
culture,
including
its
popular
genres
and
set
pieces.
Martha's
argument
is
that
the
sound
of
the
television
affects
her
work,
while
her
writing
does
not
affect
Chu,
yet
it
is
Chu's
presence
that
ultimately
helps
solve
Martha's
writer's
block.
Martha
reveals
her
new
story
idea,
inspired
by
Chu,
while
also
cooking
in
his
style,
indicating
the
4
productivity
that
comes
from
crossing
these
thresholds,
rather
than
remaining
totally
segregated.
Before
this
revelation
is
understood,
however,
the
desire
to
pursue
answers
`outside'
persists:
Martha's
desire
for
Chu
to
leave,
Martha's
desire
to
find
a
bigger
house,
and
eventually
Chu's
own
desire
to
leave
are
all
answers
considered
at
different
points
in
the
film.
This
outside
space
is
coded
through
light
coming
in
through
the
windows,
usually
through
blinds
that
mark
the
faces
of
the
characters.
The
motif
extends
from
the
persistent
light
shining
annoyingly
on
a
mentally
blocked
Martha
to
shining
on
Chu
as
he
imagines
another
time
and
place
while
singing
along
to
the
Opera,
and
again
when
Alex
asks
Chu
to
leave.
Similarly,
the
source
of
this
outside
light
is
cut
to
at
two
significant
moments:
the
moon
first,
when
Chu
goes
outside
to
watch
his
family
through
the
window,
followed
by
the
sun
rising
when
Alex
realizes
Chu
has
left.
Eventually
this
metaphor
is
extended
to
a
different
type
of
freedom
when
Chu
is
relegated
to
a
solitary,
windowless
apartment,
and
again
when
he's
in
jail,
where
there
is
but
a
sliver
of
light
coming
from
outside.
The
absence
of
light
reframes
its
function
as
a
metaphor,
now
coded
as
a
loss
of
what
existed
before.
With
Alex
and
Martha's
move
to
the
new
house
and
the
acknowledged
space
for
Chu,
there
is
a
significant
amount
of
windows,
one
of
which
dominates
the
depiction
of
Chu's
future
room.
The
exterior
space
has
gone
from
being
a
utopia
that
they
had
wished
for
in
the
hopes
of
moving
Chu
elsewhere;
then
to
marking
the
absence
of
flexibility
and
joy,
associated
with
the
family
and
t'ai
chi;
to
the
ideal
domestic
environment,
where
Chu
is
able
to
see
his
family
and
co--exist
in
a
larger
space
that
includes
t'ai
chi
?
the
external
coexisting
with
the
internal.
5
The
locus
for
cultural
communication
and
harmony
is
further
expressed
through
the
motif
of
hands,
which
are
seen
in
the
context
of
symbolizing
separate
cultures,
initially
misunderstood
collaboration
to
successful
interaction.
This
trajectory
somewhat
matches
how
the
camera
movements
and
interior
frames
are
deployed,
as
each
pertain
to
the
importance
of
space
to
the
story
and
themes
of
the
film,
though
it
is
the
most
privileged
example
due
to
the
importance
of
the
concept
of
`pushing
hands'
for
t'ai
chi
and
the
film.
The
idea
is
only
explained
at
the
culmination
of
the
film,
where
its
function
as
a
technique
that
allows
for
either
spiritual
discord
or
harmony
is
understood
as
a
metaphor
that
relates
to
the
events
of
the
film.
Chu's
hands
are
depicted
generously
throughout
the
film,
as
he
makes
food,
engages
in
t'ai
chi,
writes
in
calligraphy.
Notably,
there
are
no
close--up
shots
of
hands
when
Chu
is
working
in
the
Chinese
restaurant,
revealing
even
less
harmony
than
in
Alex
and
Martha's
home.
The
explanation
of
pushing
hands
is
itself
an
example
of
cultural
communication,
as
the
metaphor
has
been
present
for
the
entire
film,
but
might
have
been
lost
on
Western
audiences
without
the
concluding
elucidation.
Similarly,
though
Chu
is
a
master
of
t'ai
chi,
he
must
learn
that
antagonistic
outside
forces
are
not
simply
due
to
his
new
environment,
but
also
stem
from
how
he
engages
with
his
surroundings.
For
instance,
the
Chinese
restaurant
was
problematic
and
though
he
stood
his
ground,
it
resulted
in
a
trip
to
the
prison.
The
pushing
hands
conceit
extols
situations
where
the
two
forces
are
engaging
positively
?
"it's
t'ai
chi
for
two"
that
is
in
harmony
when
neither
side
is
actively
trying
to
unbalance
the
other.
Chu's
use
of
it
to
avoid
other
people
?
to
expect
that
they
want
to
unbalance
him
?
is
something
Alex
recognizes
as
a
problem
and
is
something
Alex
and
................
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