World Cinema

[Sybarite]

Originally Posted by Irene Wilde

A friend of mine attended the Battleship Potemkin thing in London as well...

Small world, eh? What did they think of it?

Originally Posted by Irene Wilde

Speaking of Metropolis an extended version was recently discovered in someone's closet in South America or something and should be released on DVD soon...

I hadn't heard about the DVD release (although it's to be expected) but I read that they'd found lost scenes and was, I admit, excited.

Originally Posted by Irene Wilde

I love that one, Pandora's Box and Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari. And, of course, can't forget Der Blaue Engel -- lovely Marlene!

Caligari is absolutely amazing, incredible. And you're right about Der Blaue Engel – which brings us an obvious link to literature and this forum, since the original story, Professor Unrat, was penned by Heinrich Mann (and isn't available in English, unfortunately).

Like I said, I'm hoping this forum will help me as grow as familiar with books from around the world as I have become with films.[/quote]

I've also got a few more of Lang's films – Spione, Frau im Mond and M, plus FW Murnau's Der letze Mann, Faust and Nosferatu.

I think this forum is really developing now as regular posters are getting to know each other. I've already learnt stuff about literature and I'm sure that'll continue.

[Irene Wilde]

I have both M and Nosferatu on the video shelf as well. I'm fascinated by the silent pictures because they developed the language of film. All the bits we are so used to seeing that we no longer "see" them -- the close-up, the intercutting of scenes to convey simultaneous action, the transitional wipes between scenes, the composition of a scene within the cameras frame to focus our attention on specific actions -- all of that had to be developed, invented, discovered. They started out shooting reels of anything that moved and what were essentially stage plays in front of a single rolling camera -- from there they learned that, not only could actors, trains, and automobiles move, but the camera could move too. The early German film-makers developed a great deal of that now universal language of cinema, so did the French. It's amazing stuff.

[Sybarite]

Originally Posted by Irene Wilde

I have both M and Nosferatu on the video shelf as well. I'm fascinated by the silent pictures because they developed the language of film. All the bits we are so used to seeing that we no longer "see" them -- the close-up, the intercutting of scenes to convey simultaneous action, the transitional wipes between scenes, the composition of a scene within the cameras frame to focus our attention on specific actions -- all of that had to be developed, invented, discovered. They started out shooting reels of anything that moved and what were essentially stage plays in front of a single rolling camera -- from there they learned that, not only could actors, trains, and automobiles move, but the camera could move too. The early German film-makers developed a great deal of that now universal language of cinema, so did the French. It's amazing stuff.

Superbly succinct analysis.

[Irene Wilde]

Succinct? Me? That's a first!

[Irene Wilde]

Last night was a choice between Bergman's "Wild Strawberries" and Kurosawa's "Dreams." I decided to leave Bergman for another time and instead watch "Dreams," Kurosawa's eight vignettes, based on his own dreams over the course of his life. Smaller and more personal than his epic pieces, "Dreams" has a dramatic visual style, whether depicting the wedding procession of the foxes in the opening sequence "Sunshine through the Rain" or the film-maker rushing through Van Gogh’s landscapes in search of the artist in "Crows," delightfully accompanied by the music of Chopin. Probably my favorite of the eight is "The Peach Orchard," in which dolls come to life to chide a small boy because his family cut down a peach orchard. They realize the boy is as upset as they are, and reward him with a dance meant to conjure the beauty of the trees in blossom. Filmed in one of Kurosawa's wide, flat shots with a haunting traditional score, it is as much a painting to come to life as the Van Gogh piece, but without the frenetic energy, the dolls’ dance is mesmerizing and beautiful.

[Sybarite]

Thank you for that, Irene. I've never watched any Kurosawa – I keep telling myself I should, but now you've made me want to.

And I've ordered it.

In terms of Bergman – it's his birthday today – I still haven't really recovered from The Seventh Seal, which was another mind-blowing cinematic experience.

Incidentally, I don't know what your German is like – tragically, this isn't available with subtitles (I was luck enough to see it with subtitles at a festival), but this is gorgeous. Schultze Gets the Blues is available from the US with subtitles – and it's also very gentle and utterly charming.

[Irene Wilde]

Kurosawa is better known for his epics like Ran and The Seven Samurai. Dreams is more personal. Still, he had a stock company of artists he worked with that understood his vision and they put together some really good films. Rashomon is probably the best known and is certainly timeless.

Schultze has the Blues looks completely charming. I'll have to add that one to the list.

I always tell people the only language I speak is 'Merican, and I do a poor job of that. I had three language teachers in school. One tried to teach me French, the other two Spanish. To this day, I'm useless in both.

[Sybarite]

Originally Posted by Irene Wilde

Kurosawa is better known for his epics like Ran and The Seven Samurai. Dreams is more personal. Still, he had a stock company of artists he worked with that understood his vision and they put together some really good films. Rashomon is probably the best known and is certainly timeless...

I've heard of all those – I might have seen some of The Seven Samurai on TV at some point – but I've never really sat down and watched one. Your description of Dreams made me want to see it.

In terms of Asian film, I watched the Korean film Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter some time ago. I don't do religion, but it's absolutely beautiful.

Originally Posted by Irene Wilde

Schultze has the Blues looks completely charming. I'll have to add that one to the list...

I think – I hope – you'll like it. There seems to be a school of gentle and charming German comedies at present: Goodbye Lenin would count, plus Herr Lehmann and the Sumo Bruno I mentioned.

Originally Posted by Irene Wilde

I always tell people the only language I speak is 'Merican, and I do a poor job of that. I had three language teachers in school. One tried to teach me French, the other two Spanish. To this day, I'm useless in both.

I posted a comment here, but it seems better in Thomas's new thread on languages, rather than repeat myself (and bore everyone rigid).

[saliotthomas]

I love Kurosawa but watch some of his movies too young.Derzu Uzala when i was about ten left me perplex and a bit scarred.I saw them again since and love them Kagemusha in one of my favorite.

[saliotthomas]

I was wondering if any of you heard of the director Bertrand Blier,the most famous of his films been Buffet froid,les valseuses,tenu de soirée.My favorite been the two first.Depardieu did i debut with him as well a Patrick Dewaere(a great great great actor)
His film are hard to define,strange to say the least.I like less the most recent ones.

[Irene Wilde]

Originally Posted by saliotthomas

I was wondering if any of you heard of the director Bertrand Blier,the most famous of his films been Buffet froid,les valseuses,tenu de soirée.My favorite been the two first.Depardieu did i debut with him as well a Patrick Dewaere(a great great great actor)
His film are hard to define,strange to say the least.I like less the most recent ones.

I believe I have seen Les Valseuses, under it's Americanized named Going Places (can't be too direct with Americans, I guess) but it was many years ago now. If it is the film I'm thinking of it was rather a dark comedy. What I remember was not being sure how to take the film. It was billed, here anyway, as a wacky comic "buddy" movie, which really wasn't what it was. The Blier film I'm most familiar with is Trop Belle Pour Toi, which was quite big on the art house circuit back in its day.

[saliotthomas]

Originally Posted by Irene Wilde

I believe I have seen Les Valseuses, under it's Americanized named Going Places (can't be too direct with Americans, I guess) but it was many years ago now. If it is the film I'm thinking of it was rather a dark comedy. What I remember was not being sure how to take the film. It was billed, here anyway, as a wacky comic "buddy" movie, which really wasn't what it was. The Blier film I'm most familiar with is Trop Belle Pour Toi, which was quite big on the art house circuit back in its day.

I'll find one you never heard about,just wait.....

[Irene Wilde]

I'm a relative new-comer to World Literature. I've had a 30-year love affair with World Cinema. Even so, I know there are many films I haven't had run into -- yet.

[fausto]

Think I'm going to see Faust by Murnau in the musée du cinéma tonight.

[Irene Wilde]

The child requires a trip to borders today for the new Artemis Fowl book, so I think I'll browse the shelves and see what I can find. I'm leaning towards 8 1/2 or maybe Jules et Jim. Anyone have a preference between the two?

[saliotthomas]

Originally Posted by Irene Wilde

The child requires a trip to borders today for the new Artemis Fowl book, so I think I'll browse the shelves and see what I can find. I'm leaning towards 8 1/2 or maybe Jules et Jim. Anyone have a preference between the two?

An hard choice Irene,it's been an eternity since a saw a Fellini so i would pick Huit et demi,but i sure would watch Jules et Jim strait after.
I think i got a chalenge for you,have you ever heard of the Jean Rouch film in Africa-like Cocorico MR poulet-sort of crazy road movies across Africa.Another one i saw to early,i kept for long these memories of black guys in their 2chevaux waving in circle those plastic pipe(the wisthling noise was supposed to chase the spirits)and now and the shouting cocorico mr poulet.I sweared then that i 'd never set foot in Africa.
Jean Rouch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Irene Wilde]

You have me at last! My knowledge of African cinema does not extend too far beyond The Gods Must be Crazy and La Battaglia di Algeri.

I'll put that on the list.

Aren't you glad you changed your mind about Africa?

[saliotthomas]

I have not been in black Africa yet,first the toes ,then the foot,then.......

[Irene Wilde]

I hope you get there one day. I've browsed your website and I think you would capture some of the stunningly beautiful faces of other parts of Africa very well. Speaking of...and going decidedly off topic, there is one painting on your site that is just captivating. I don't know if it is titled, but it's a man and a woman in an urban landscape at night under a street lamp. Utterly gorgeous. Was there a particular inspiration for that one?

[Irene Wilde]

They wanted twice as much for Jules et Jim as they did for 8 1/2, so Fellini it is! But just to keep things balanced I bought a compilation of Charles Aznavour's Greatest Hits.