R.I.P.

I hope Theo has now embarked on the greatest and most wonderful new journey of all

I CANNOT believe THIS! I always figured he’d live forever!

“I hope Theo has now embarked on the greatest and most wonderful new journey of all”

I’m not deeply religious but I can only hope Theo is in a better place with all the other great artists. This kind of death shakes even the most adamant of us.

I am beyond shocked and sad that one of the last few true auteurs has left the building.

What sad news. He will always be considered one of the great artists in my eyes, and I am sure as time goes on even more of the world will be able to see his wonderful work and be moved by it as well.

This position somewhat remained me of what happened with Japanese director Satoshi Kon. Angelopoulos’ death was incredibly sudden in complete contrast to Kon’s, but Kon had also left a film unfinished too, and there were debates on whether fellow animators in his staff could finish it. The whole issue of completing the work of the (sadly) deceased does touch the issues of auteurism let alone trying to assemble the pieces left together into a concise work. Just deciding if its in the best wishes or not, even if it is very early to think about it, is going to be a task let alone start the task.

^That is an interesting question and maybe a good topic for a separate thread.

I don’t find the idea of another artist finishing an unfinished work absurd or offensive. There are many examples in music of works that have been completed posthumously. To name only three: Mozart’s Requiem, Puccini’s Turandot, Berg’s Lulu. Postery has been grateful for these.

With his new film, Angelopoulos, Greece’s foremost filmmaker, was making a statement about the contemporary situation in his country, at a time of crisis and great need. If it is at all possible, if a shooting script or plans exist, then the footage he has created over the past several weeks should be brought into a presentable form, so that we might see what he had to say. The film is the most important thing. The film, above all – and I suspect many filmmakers would agree.

Of course a work can still be fascinating in its unfinished state. But it’s easier to publish an unfinished novel or to hang an unfinished painting on the wall than it is to distribute an unfinished film. I would rather see the film completed by somebody else than never have the opportunity to see it at all.

To suggest Bela Tarr might seem a superficial comparision between two masters of the sequence shot, but it is undeniable that if someone were needed to direct a completion, it would have to be a film maker who shares Angelopoulos’ sense of time and space. Political affinity would be a consideration too, as well as nationality, given the subject matter. But the criterion of aesthetic kinship is surely of utmost importance. I thought of Miklos Jancso, as I believe there must have been a mutual respect there.

Joks, I see that you find the Tarr suggestion stupid and annoying, and say that this is why you “hate cinephiles sometimes.” But surely it is only a cinephile who even without exact knowledge of the circumstances (how much of the film was yet to be completed, whether or not the director had left extensive notes behind) would advocate the permanent closing down of this production several weeks into the shoot, and absolutely reject as an insult to the auteur the idea that another person might finish the work.

Some will instinctively find the idea disrespectful, and I can understand that. But respect for the story which Angelopoulos was hoping to tell is also a consideration. Perhaps there is a way that this half-told story can still be brought to the screen and have a life. The result of a posthumous completion might well never be an official part of the Angelopoulos body of work, but it might well be fascinating, and could at least stand as a tribute to the great director. I for one would be grateful to anybody willing to attempt it.

“To suggest Bela Tarr might seem a superficial comparision between two masters of the sequence shot, but it is undeniable that if someone were needed to direct a completion, it would have to be a film maker who shares Angelopoulos’ sense of time and space”

Or maybe a filmmaker who was a good mimic, a filmmaker who knew cinema and knew had to imitate different styles – PT Anderson, Martin Scorsese.

Btw – I’m not suggesting either of these two guys complete this film. lol

Now, Theodoros Angelopoulos. :(

I would like to see what has already been filmed, but I don’t think anyone should shoot the rest of the plot.

Perhaps a documentary about Angelopoulos which would include the footage from The Other Sea? Something in the vein of Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno.

That sounds like a pretty good idea. But does anyone know how far into production the was? How much was shot?

Sad for sure. Wonder what will happen to the film he was working with. Though I wasnt a fan of his previous films. For me his peak was The Travelling Playes. Havent seen Days of 36 though. Interestig and not surprising he would work with the financial crisis.
I recently watched The Round-Up by Jancso, I think this film must have influenced Angelopoulos.

Dimitris

“Instead of jerking off with possible “wrapping ups” and incomplete nonsense, how about the Santinos who post here (since Sam brings up a very reasonable status quo point) start watching his films (and the Jerry Johnsons while we’re at it) and I mean Watching and Being Informed By and not just “reviewing” and cease the ridiculous “contemplations” about his unfortunate and untimely death? I believe the best thing an individual who has zero to add here is to either watch 2-3 of his films or shut the hell up.

Regarding who’s foremost and who isn’t, only academia will “decide” on the legacy of his work since the academia is / are part of the New World Order of disillusion and tyranny. All hail the rise of the past and the time for Greek cinema to be glorified in a universal way and not because of an Angelopoulos amidst the cinephile world. What, if Tarr dies, Hungarian cinema dies? I don’t think so (that goes to all the contemplation fanboys)

My suggestion is: watch and love his films like you’d love a Bresson or a Kubrick or a Ford or a Tarkovsky but don’t stick to him and only…keep exploring and learning and especially more of his films’ “branches” i.e. his actors / actresses, his music, his screenwriters and see in which Greek cinema paths these branches will lead you into…"

I’m trying Dimitris.

One last thing just a heads up: Theo was three weeks into his six week scheduled shoot so the film could technically be half finished. Whether or not all production stops is the real question.

I was going to post something, you know, the usual stuff about Landscape in the Mist being a revelation for me but I think I will shut up now.

^^nice! Nothing beats the theater scene though!

Joks, you and I both know that youtube wouldn’t allow the theater scene.

This is sad, sad news.

btw, for some sinister reason the way Angelopoulos’ died reminded me of this:

Took The New York Times long enough to even post an obit, and that’s it, not even a small piece in the Arts section. What is wrong with them?

Farewell to the Greek master who has left us with the treasures of his cinema. It has been more then a pleasure to watch his vision through many of his masterpieces. Rest in peace.