Cate Blanchett’s shaven head recalls Max Schreck in Nosferatu.
This was an unfilmed screenlay by Kieslowski. I was underwhelmed by this film. I thought it was needlessly “pretty” at times. I kept thinking it would have been more effective with a Latin American setting and a Latin American sensibility. Or Almodovar — he could have brought out something outrageous and raw in it. The romance between Blanchett and Ribisi never quite caught fire for me.
“Heaven” has a dreamy, under glass/under water quality to it. The film is pretty and dreamy, but to no purpose, and rather dispassionately. I feel the same about “The Princess and the Warrior.” They are both technically accomplished, attractive, and airy. Tykwer threw out the ticking clock after “Lola Rennt,” and it is exactly what his subsequent films are lacking: a sense of urgency and a purpose to strive towards.
Kieslowski apparently was planning on creating another trilogy, Heaven, Hell and Purgatory. For me, this film perfectly embodies the idea of redemption and heaven. The last shot especially. I agree about Princess and the Warrior being flawed (though I still like it), but for me Heaven really strikes a cord.
“I thought it was needlessly “pretty” at times.”
I think this is intentional. It is supposed to be ethereal, almost meditative. It is a shame that Kieslowski died before writing the other two!!
Well, I don’t know, a film about terrorism that’s ethereal and meditative — I guess that just didn’t work for me. The treatment didn’t seem equal to the subject matter.
Lixian
I am new to this site. But I was sad to see that while Run Lola Run etc are on auteurs. I could not seem to find his film Heaven. How does one go about adding a film? For those of you who have not seen this film, it is a real gem. Cate Blanchett’s best.