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Today's NYTimes Best 1176 Film was

Suna no onna / Woman in the Dunes (1964)

There are movies, films and art films.

A movie is probably the rouser you saw this last weekend that won't last more than a day in your mind's eye.

A film is something you linger over in your mind and relish, perhaps figure out after the event. Something you can still "see".

An art film is a poser. It may take days to shake off the images and the emotions that it aroused. You will surely want to see it again just to circle around its puzzles one more time. To relish the experience. You may return to it again and again.

Or, you may not like it very much and never want to see it again but it will stay with you forever one way or another. Even in one's subconscious. It will rattle around and you will be "seeing it" whether you want to or not.

"Woman in the Dunes' is an art film. An oriental Sisyphus story. Somewhat baffling. A lot of symbolism. A template of human experience. Slow. Didactic. Frustrating. Beautiful to watch. Subtle.

What else can I say?

Not a lot happens and yet a lot happens. I enjoyed it but I am not sure I would want to see it again. It is, well, too Japanese!

I liked the music. Modern atonal.

A 3 out of Netflix5 even though all the critics and film buffs consider it a masterpiece.

Hey, I don't much like the Mona Lisa either.

Labels: best films