Over the weekend, even with Easter and Crewsmas commitments I found time to spend quite a few hours watching movies. I got halfway through The Best of Youth and rewatched Kiesloski's Blue.First, The Best of Youth, I only got halfway through this movie because of some piss poor planning on my Netflix queue. This film is six hours long. Originally, it was set for Itallian televison as a miniseries. The main plot so far seems to be following two brothers in Italy from 1966 to present day. At times the film becomes a bit unbelievable as paths cross years down the line that shouldn't cross again. But, for some reason that hasn't mattered so far. I was so into it after three hours, I walked across the street to the video store to see if they had a copy. I was ready to watch the second disc right then and there. Sadly, I won't be able to watch disc two until this weekend. I ams sometimes skeptical of films that go beyond the 2 1/2 hour mark. Often times they are pretentious as hell, and are trying to make an artistic or political statement that just falls flat. That doesn't seem to be where this film is headed. It just seems to be a slowly developing story about two brothers going along different paths in their lives, yet sharing the bond of family. A simple story, just told over six hours. Yet, to me at least so far, it's very enjoyable.
Blue is the first of Kieslowski's Colors Trilogy. Each film titled for a color of the french flag, and the ideal which it represents. Blue's symbolic of liberty, but this film is by no means political. Instead, a young woman played by Juliette Binoche is dealing with the loss of her husband (a world famous composer) and her child in an auto accident. After the accident she takes up residence on a random street corner in Paris trying to avoid contact with virtually everyone. Trying to live in liberty or free from her past. As chance would have it, she can't do this. She is haunted by her husbands music, and eventually by realizing her husband had a mistress. This is a film that I could watch nearly weekly and not get sick of, which is probably why I own it. Beautiful music, great acting by Binoche, and one of the more powerful endings in any movie that I can remember.
7 comments:
that doesn't sound like a review of the new mogwai at all.
- spitz
p.s.
www.livejournal.com/users/xleapfrogx
spitz, did you know my school hates you? it has denied my request to read your webpage...i can't imagine what you could have done to piss off pike township.
i can think of a few things...
hahaha yea, like the restraining order i have against me from all IPS schools. one of my most proud acheivements.
I've wanted to see the Colors Triplogy for a long time now. I'm going to have to get down to Mass Ave video to start with Blue.
Jim,
I make no secret that Kieslowski is my favorite director. I think you would absolutely love the Colors Trilogy. I recently purchased it for myself just to have around for lazy mornings like the other day when I put in Blue.
Personally, I think it's best viewed in quick succession, so if you can set aside time for Blue, White and Red in that order over a week or two I think you will find yourself quite rewarded.
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