red_schonewille

The movie was not known to me untill recently. But did it reach the audience it deserved? The combination of classical music and a message reminds me of many films that were directed by A. Tarkovski.

In 1977 we had Slap Shot starring Paul Newman. It is like Rollerball minus Tarkovski.

Twenty years after the release of this film Nathalie Wood was found drowned near her boat that was named Splendor. It's obvious to see that the film had haunted her for years and eventualy swallowed her. Why? No final clues here just a guess. In the end of the film Angelina comes in played by Zohra Lampert. And she outplays them all. That's my guess why.

Story by Victor Hugo in a thre episodes tv series. Why has not a person reviewed this masterpiece? Unforgettable is an understatement here. It's an ode to Delphine Desyeux who is heart of the film but also to Julliete Villard who soon after this production died. The movie is a strong medicin against dark cynism. A powerfull statement for love. Honestly a highwatermark in the arts in general. Standing ovation and adeep bow.

This is a highwatermark for tenderness and human soul. How we cherish our youth and let it stay alive.

It was great joy to watch the beautifull film adaption of 'le petit prince'. Maybe only the russians can capture the sad atmosphere of the story without spoiling it. The story never becomes cheesy or overly sentimental. For all devotees of LPP I can highly advise go and see it for yourself.

With the book just read I saw this movie. So the book is based on the life of Lautrec and the film is based on the book. All I can say I enjoyed the movie a lot as I did the book. But keeping in mind that both book and film are saying more from themselves than from Lautrec. Now the book is more french and more genuie as a result. The movie is all americana and Paris becomes well a bit flat. On the other hand the pictures that could'nt be diplayed in the book were marvelous in the film. In the book Lautrec was more ugly and his girlfriends were more beautiful. I can recomment anyone to read the novel as well. But nobody seems to do that. So if you have read the novel the movie will not disappoint for sure.

The movie has a beautifull tone. And by this tone it takes you to it's own reality. I found some hints in the film of the story of Pygmalion by Bernard Shaw. Later adapted to a musical by the name "my fair lady". Originaly Pygmalion was an artist who made a sculpture of a beautifull girl that came to life. This story written by Ovid. So the power of imagination is central.

The movie fits well at the beginning of a new year. The two woman reminds me of the two faces of a Janus. Janus was a roman god related to ends and beginnings. It was the door between them. Januari is derived from that. People here come to a full circle and afterwards they move on. It's easy to see that the much more bombastic film Ofret by Tarkovsky was an ode to this film.

The teardrop of Sofia Loren is the hallmark of the movie. No man uses Agua Brava aftershave anymore but boy it was OK then. In our post post era we could take this away from the movie that good storytelling will never be outdated. A role model pur sang for people that have need for deepness in their lives.

It is highly recommended watching these series together with reading the novel. The story is basically indoors so it has the atmosphere of a play. However the book contains some outdoor activities in London, Florence and Rome. They were missed completely. Because of this the movie doesn't come alive as for instance 'A room with a view' does which has basically the same settings. Much attention is given to interior decorating and costumes. They are worth watching on their own. In close up scenes it was visible that large amounts of grime were there. That gave even more a sense of watching a play. In the end a crucial scene was completely lost in the movie that I won't spoil. For me Pansy was the true hero of the movie more so than in the book because of her acting so wistful.

The film is first of all a poetical visual experience to my taste. A well known picture in Tarkovsky's films is 'Trinity by Rublev. Here it is key because the picture is about the visitors to Abraham.

And here we have the visitors to Solaris. Enigmatic planet for all who go there. For Kris it is a place to deal with the daemon of his dead wife.

Via the painting 'Winter, by Breughel he returns home and finally makes the same gesture as the prodigal son. The film's end is a epiphany of some sort.

Did I mention the music? Bach's fa minor chorale prelude is at home here more than anywhere else.