Sunday, March 23, 2008
SECOND LAP
I am into the 3d disc and the 6th episode of the 15 1/2 hour long Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980), the record length film by Rainer Werner Fassbinder.
The title refers to where the action takes place.
"The Alex" is a huge square in Berlin with many historic connections.
I am sort of settled into it. The film, not the square. It is very comfortable. There are several interesting continuing characters.
There are complex relationships.
The sets are beautiful—the photography moody. There is always a light coming back at us as we watch.
I suspect that it is as genuine as can be all the way down to its floor tiles. Weimar Berlin in the 1920's.
The plot is thickening as our anti-hero continues his pledge to go straight after his four years in prison. We first saw him as he came out of the prison gate.
It is a tough line to tread.
Labels: best films