Sunday, April 15, 2007
ART FILM
Today's NYTimes Best 1176 Film was Ingmar Bergman's
When you are not sure what a picture is about you are in art film land.
I do know that this is about artifice and identity and it is also about the art (of) film itself.
The opening shows the carbon arc of a film projector igniting. Then the film loop. The leader countdown 10, 9, 8, etc. A cartoon from the old luminaire device. Keystone Cops. Other images. Fast and furious. The history of cinema—even porno (an erect cock)— in a few minutes. And then, the show—Bergman!
You will like it I think.
It is engrossing.
The surest way to ruin an art film experience is to try to figure it out or rationalize it although, I think, that the messages here are quite straightforward.
There is a story sort of. An actress who does not speak and her nurse. Or is it the other way around?
Liv Ullmann, so beautiful, and Bibi Andersson; the Bergman muses.
It is a 5 out of Netflix5.
I think that Ebert has a good handle on it in the linked review.
He did a second 'appreciation' thirty-five years later..
But you should really see it for yourself.
Labels: bergman, best films
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
PURE INGMAR
Today's NYTimes Best 1176 Film was Ingmar Bergman's
Here is what kind of film this is. It is a tale of repression; of memory, emotions, thoughts, desires. It is a challenge to show this kind of feeling plane.
To elucidate, each of the actors come on and tell you about what is behind their character at various times during the story.
So theatrical. Addressing the audience. Hardly ever seen in films. It actually works.
There is also a parallel story which rages in violence while the slow, smoldering protagonists only inch towards their catharsis.
Wow. I haven't used that word since college.
There are no wasted scenes, so you have to make a lot of 'bridges' for yourself to navigate the territory of this bleak foursome made up of a brilliant Max Von Sydow, Liv Ullman, Bibi Andersson and Erland Josephson; the core Bergman repertory company.
I liked it a lot even though I was often reaching to get to the next point before I got the last one.
It is not accessible in one gulp. You will need a high tolerance for ambiguity.
I have plenty of that.
I will give it a 5 out of Netflix5. I like to be stretched.
Labels: bergman, best films
