Between this and Morvern Callar, I think I have my new obsessions for 2022.
Upon rewatch, I can’t help but think that the majority of this wasn’t even real. The whole thing plays out like a hazy wet dream, and it’s probably the closest to magical realism that Claire Denis has gotten so far (even moreso than Trouble Every Day or High Life). We know next to nothing about the lead character (played by Valérie Lemercier) other than that it’s…
So angry. So chaotic. So passionate. So brilliant. So relevant. This film is an exhausting watch that is well worth it. Even though it tells you that it’s an reenactment right off the bat, it still manages to be completely immersive. It pretty much tackles all angles of a revolution, and with its timeless themes of media manipulation, Peter Watkins’ rule-breaking docudrama style makes him the perfect person to make a film about this event. He had his own schtick and…
“Poetic cinema” has become an overly used term to the point of parody (I am definitely guilty of using it too lol) but I think it very much applies to Terence Davies’ style more than anything. His films literally and figuratively have a lyrical vibe to them that’s hard to compare to anyone else, and even though I’ve struggled to get emotionally invested in his films before this, I’ve been very much interested in exploring him further. Maybe I just…
A classic rural, star-crossed lovers, semi-vérité story wrapped up as an anti-capitalist rallying cry. Some comparisons to Malick here but feels more like The Emigrants/The New World with the heart of Kenny Loach. Perhaps a bit naive with its message and underdeveloped as far as the romance goes, but certainly has the spirit and I love me a good “small community rallies together” story and this has plenty of that - plus it’s always great to see a completely independent…
Guy Gilles made some of the most stereotypically French films ever made. Good looking young white people smoking, drinking coffee and professing about love - he makes Godard look like Clint Eastwood and his style is like Rohmer with ADHD. But I’ll be damned if his films were so goddamn beautiful. His masterful montage, depictions of fleeting memories - and here in particular - the fucking neon vibes makes this so easy to get lost in. It’s easy to write this…
Man...the first half of this, I was gearing up for it to become a new favorite. Then there’s a major time jump in the second half and it became less compelling. It goes from a family drama to essentially a romance story and I just didn’t feel the emotion there. I actually think this could’ve benefited from being a bit longer and more fleshed out.
That being said, this movie has the best depiction of the five senses I’ve seen…
