Loser (Taiwan) by Mali Chen
Curator's Choice
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5m 19s
In the heart of a decaying city, a discarded inflatable doll awakens in a trash bin—singing. Picked up by a homeless man and thrown into a rickety cart, it joins a band of broken toys and lifeless objects. As the cart rumbles through alleys and forgotten streets of Los Angeles, the trash begins to sing in harmony—a surreal chorus of the abandoned. Based on “LOSER,” a track from Taiwanese indie band the Peppermints’ concept album ¬ NOTtoBE, the film blends pop satire with cinematic lament, taking viewers on a visceral journey through shame, rejection, and the absurd beauty of failure. Combining live-action and AI-generated visuals, director Mali Chen fuses VFX artistry with lo-fi textures and whimsical melancholy, evoking a world where discarded things reclaim their voice. Through a blend of camp, poetry, and social commentary, LOSER reveals a paradox: in a world obsessed with success, most people don’t really love winners—they love losers. Because losers feel more real. Even if just for the length of a song.
Running time: 00:05:20
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