Stray Dogs is difficult to walk away from. And that is a good thing for this film – because it is equally difficult to watch.

Director Tsai Ming-liang’s trademark meditative, lingering shots (many over five minutes long and devoid of much action, let alone dialogue) and obscure plot clues leave audiences sleepy and somewhat confused; but the characters – however slippery to grasp – are endearing, real, and spellbinding.

Many will become exasperated with the minimalism of this film – dialogue is sparse – and even then – only gives obscure signals as to the plot. The opening scene sees a pretty lady brushing her hair whilst looking over two sleeping children. Presumably they are her children and this is her last goodbye – having made the decision to leave her husband with the children.

The husband (Lee Kang-sheng) works holding a billboard for real estate on a busy roadside – out in the elements in a flimsy disposable raincoat. To communicate the monotony of this occupation, we’re subjected to several lengthy shots of him working. Each night the family wash in a public restroom and retire to their makeshift home in an abandoned shipping container.

Whilst their father works, the children (Lee Yi-chieh and Lee Yi-cheng) pass the time in a shopping centre, often frequenting a supermarket and snacking on food samples. It’s there they meet a shop worker who eventually takes them in. In a surprisingly literal plot point – her other pastime is feeding local stray dogs supermarket leftovers late at night.

Amongst the monotony is a completely surprising, somewhat ridiculously lengthy scene involving the caressing, suffocating and ravaging of an unsuspecting cabbage – sincerely and incredibly well-played by Lee Kang-sheng.

Stray Dogs requires its audience to concentrate far more than standard films, and more than many of Tsi Ming-liang’s past works. This can be frustrating at times. For those willing to stay with it though – it delivers some beautiful moments, endearing characters an incredibly unique vegetable scene.

Stray Dogs is screening at Melbourne International Film Festival on Friday, 1 August and Friday 15 August 2014. Tickets can be purchased on the MIFF website.