Friday, January 13, 2006
BRIT UPPER LIP
There are some films that are so full of human emotion and energy that seeing them seems to burst your insides; all the feelings get played like the string section of an orchestra.
Such is the case with today's NYTimes Best 1176 Film: John Boorman's
I am sure that part of my experience was in identifying with the boy (Boorman) whose whole life is changed with the onset of World War II. I am not British but there are many touchstones for an American boy in the same situation.
All the rules go off. People change radically. A father goes off to war. Relatives carry on as though nothing is happening. There is somehow more joy and fun above the basic dread.
All that.
The film is almost entirely from the boy's perspective so there is no rant and lecture about war. It just is a fact of life. The world turns upside down. So it is.
There are very funny parts in this film and ineffably sad ones as well.
It is just great.
This is a fiver out of the Netflix five and you ought to rent it NOW.
