Friday, May 12, 2006
QUIRKY
Today's Best 1176 Films from the NYTimes was:
This is on a lot of 'greatest' and 'best' lists.
It is the only film made by the director who had TB and died just after it was completed.
It is dreamy and poetic and yet, at the same time, blunt and direct with its emotions.
A young couple marry and live together on a Seine barge with two other people. Tight quarters.
There are differences.
The couple separates.
Will they ever get back together?
That simple a story. But great effects, some before their time.
There is a sequence where each, living apart, imagines the other while in bed. Very sexy. Better than if they were actually together.
Lots of stuff to see.
It is sometimes hard to watch as it is what I think of as French loud. They yell at each other.
Also, we are just out of the silents and the drama is a bit heavy at time.
A test. I watched it intensely even when I did not 'like' what was going on.
Well, that is good cinema eh? Or at least one definition.
Ebert says that this film transformed Truffaut's life at age 14. And, obviously affected his work for life. That is a big thing right there. One film breeds so many others.
I liked it and would not want to have to see it again.
I will give it a 3 out of Netflix5 as I am not all that hot on 'historic' cinematic experiences.
Maybe if I had been 14.
