Friday, December 07, 2012
SMALL SCALEupdated to change rating
Today's film was Aki Kaurismaki's
A Finn's film about France with a french cast.
This is a tribute also to French Film. Caps.
In brilliant color and with music that rises from time to time, clearly from the Forties, a simple two track story is told about Marx, a shoe shine man, who comes upon an illegal boy who needs shelter from immigration.
This is also a film about kindness. Old fashioned kindness. Where people pitch in and help.
It is also blatantly proletarian. After all the main character's name is Marx. What else could it be?
Color. Everywhere.
Near tableau performances. People stand still and gaze at each other or the passing scene (meaning the camera). There is plenty of time to look.
Watching is a great pleasure.
Marx' wife is also ill. The second track of the story. He is not told how seriously. We see their love play out in small bouquets and careful negotiation of life's rapids.
A thoroughly nice film. A fairy tale, perhaps. Where nothing bad happens although there is great pain surrounding, none comes near.
I liked this very much. A good solid 4 out of Netflix5. I actually watched it again over John's shoulder the same evening.
Labels: films
