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…
Disillusionment of the American dream from an American sold out and exiled by his own. Pretty much perfect in my eyes, didn’t find much fault with the heavy handed melodrama and it all just worked for me. Lea Padovani, you have me heart.
Someone PLEASE restore this already.
Nuri Bilge Ceylan‘s films seem very intimidating on the surface, but I’m in awe of how easily immersive they are. Small scale yet feel “epic” at the same time. They feel so seamless and naturalistic, not just with the dialogue and his incredible patience when it comes to establishing setting, but also due to the acting. I can’t imagine how long and intense the rehearsals are, but they pay off tenfold. I didn’t find the characters in this as complex…
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…
