Sight and Sound (2002) Greatest Films Club - Page 17

Matt<>Broon · 06-02-2003, 11:39 AM

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Just so, history is not so important (for me) in this film, but it is still important to have an understanding of ‘faith’, in order to understand this film. This, is necessary for a good many of Dreyer’s films. The nature of faith is something he returns to again and again.

Indeed, just as in Ordet for example.

Another wonderful film but I strongly suspect that if you find Passion to be heavy going then you'll have similar difficulties with Ordet.

Centered as Ordet is about the nature of faith and the schism between Catholic & Protestant religion I can easily see someone unfamiliar with Christianity or the differences between the two beliefs finding the film opaque at the very least.

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Pascal A · 06-02-2003, 11:43 AM

Just wanted to give a heads-up for people who receive TCM that they are showcasing Indian Bollywood films this month.

Of interest for the S&S club would be:

6/19 8:00 pm Pakeeza Kamal Amrohi (#226)
6/26 1:30 pm Pyaasa Guru Dutt (#157)

Full program is here.

Lew Crippen · 06-02-2003, 12:11 PM

Thanks for the heads up, Pascal.

John^Lal · 06-02-2003, 11:04 PM

what time zone is that in?

OcieB · 06-03-2003, 01:18 AM

So i just saw That Obscure Object of Desire(A+) and was blown away. I thought it was really brilliant; the movie flowed so well and everything felt natural. I dont want to write much seeing as it is late and all, but does anyone have opinions about it they wish to share (again even)? It's funny, i love French cinema more and more with every film i see; and comparing them to American movies, there really is no competition: france > USA. 55 viewed.

Kirk Tsai · 06-03-2003, 04:51 AM

Ocie, I agree that the pacing of Obscure Object is superb, but I don't quite understand how it feels "natural," could you elaborate? I really liked the picture; the casting choice to cast two different women is inspired--the Rey character never knows what is going on.

143 was Aguirre, Wrath of God. Whoa. How was this ever shot on film? The look of the rafts is scary, especially as the story progresses. How is it floating at all, and what business do actors and film crews have to stay on there for? Just for technical mastery, it's stunning. But there's also Kinski's intense performance and many unforgettable images. The opening and closing shots are going to be forever in my memory. The film's two main themes, illusion of hope/power and the inherant problems of the Spanish colonialist ideology are also well expressed.

Matt<>Broon · 06-03-2003, 07:06 AM

113 was L'Age d'or.

My very first Bunuel film & because I simply couldn't get on with this one I find myself slightly dismayed that he has so many films in the list.

I'm not sure that I watched the film under the best circumstances (I'd had an unusually long and trying day) so I'll give the film another go this weekend.

As I'm a huge Pixies fan perhaps I should have started with the lyric inspiring Un Chien andalou.

Pascal A · 06-03-2003, 08:28 AM

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Ocie, I agree that the pacing of Obscure Object is superb, but I don't quite understand how it feels "natural," could you elaborate?

I'm not Ocie, but I definitely understand his comment about the "natural" feeling of Buñuel's films which, in essence, illustrates how brilliant he was at achieving surrealism in his films where the bizarre and the inexplicable somehow seems normal. It's a lot like the scene in The Exterminating Angel when the woman expresses disappointment that she can't use the bear and sheep that are lazing on the kitchen floor as part of the evening's entertainment, like every household has this kind of livestock roaming about the house.

But anyway, Matt, don't be too discouraged by Buñuel's films yet; he has never really made another film like L'age d'or. His tone is always a bit snide, but his films evolved over time and his wit tended to get sharper as he got older. In my opinion, his late period films are his best, particularly Belle de jour and That Obscure Object of Desire, which are my favorites.

Lew Crippen · 06-03-2003, 09:23 AM

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113 was L'Age d'or.

My very first Bunuel film & because I simply couldn't get on with this one I find myself slightly dismayed that he has so many films in the list.

I’d not worry about that Matt. Age of Gold is probably Buñuel’s least accessible film. It was done at the height of surrealism (Dalí is given a screenwriting credit), so what is presented is very symbolic—even to the point that Buñuel would sometimes claim that there was no underlying meaning.

You get some similar difficulties in watching early Cocteau, such as Blood of a Poet.

Most of the rest of Buñuel should be more enjoyable.

Lew Crippen · 06-03-2003, 09:28 AM

The Best Years of our Lives seems to be trying very hard to be a self-important, Hollywood film. This is a film with a message, and we are constantly reminded of the plight of returning servicemen. But this is all presented so skillfully and the characters are so well constructed, that even when they are stereotypical (basically all of the women) we are drawn into the difficulties that each of the three servicemen encounters.

And since this film was made right after the war, it is supremely optimistic even as it addresses infidelity, alcoholism and disablement. William Wyler is at the top of his game here and Greg Toland provides great camerawork.

Brook K · 06-03-2003, 11:17 AM

Bunuel had at least 3 significant periods during his directing career and his films differed quite a bit as his ideas shifted and developed.

1. Surrealist with Salvador Dali, Jean Epstein, etc. A silent film version of Fall of the House of Usher directed by Epstein and assisted by Bunuel is available on DVD.

2. Mexican Period: A political outcast from Franco's Spain, Bunuel moved to Mexico and made films like Los Olvidados and El (I haven't seen any of these so I can't comment on the style)

3. France: Around 1960 Bunuel moved back to Paris and made the most popular films of his career concerning the political, social, and sexual topics he is most identified with like Belle De Jour, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeosie, and That Obscure Object of Desire.

Kirk, Glad you thought so highly of Aguirre, it's one of my favorites. If you're interested in other Werner Herzog films, he made a number of very notable films in the 70's - The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser, Stoszek, Heart Of Glass, his remake of Nosferatu, and then returned to the Amazon for Fitzcarraldo in '82.

OcieB · 06-03-2003, 06:07 PM

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Ocie, I agree that the pacing of Obscure Object is superb, but I don't quite understand how it feels "natural," could you elaborate?