In 1956, Taradash directed Storm Center, a moral fable about book-banning. "Storm Center is the quintessential anti-censorship film, offering a very strong, positive image of the librarians played by both Davis and Kim Hunter. Though the storyline is dated and the town's emotional reversal is somewhat unbelievable, Davis is convincing as she ponders the question 'How do you get rid of a book?" - Film Librarian
"J'irai cracher sur vos tombes" based on the novel by Boris Vian and directed by Michel Gast in 1959 was released in the USA in 1963 as "I Spit On Your Grave." A French romantic melodrama about interracial love ("The Film That Defies Every Taboo!"; "He Passed For White! ...And They Loved It!") starred Christian Marquand, Antonella Lualdi, Fernand Ledoux, Daniel Cauchy, Renate Ewert, Marina Petrowa, Andre Versini, Paul Guers, and Jean Sorel. "On the morning of June 23, 1959, Boris Vian was at the Cinema Marbeuf for the screening of the film version of his controversial "Vernon Sullivan" novel, J'irai cracher sur vos tombes (I will Spit On Your Graves). He had already fought with the producers over their interpretation of his work and he publicly denounced the film stating that he wished to have his name removed from the credits. A few minutes after the film began, he reportedly blurted out: "These guys are supposed to be American? My ass!" He then collapsed into his seat and died of a heart attack en route to the hospital."
"The Truth will set us free." and Jafar Panahi has been filming this concept in his motion-pictures - no wonder the Iranian authorities are so upset - but really, they should lighten-up.
Beckett created primarily with words; Tarr with images. Beckett might have ended 'The Turin Horse ' with: "it will be the dark, where I am, I don't know, I'll never know, in the dark you don't know, you must go on, I can't go on, I'll go on." A fitting close to this part of Bela Tarr's career - can't wait to see what he and Agnes will do next - maybe some form of social activism . . .
A friend of mine, who does not like most classic and foreign films asked me what "The Turin Horse" was like - I answered, trying to keep it simple: "god is dead and your gonna be dead too." Of course that doesn't give Tarr's masterpiece credit - but I believe my friend got the point. . .
"Mr. Gilic's films are called documentaries. But he's superb at finding the astonishing images that lurk in the ordinary world. It's as if he'd nabbed some magic from the air and wedded it to facts. And it's a privilege to see through his eyes . . ." - The New York Times
Absolutely! In 90s he supposed to shoot two more films. Unfortunately, he never shoot them because he never got promised money for shooting them. He is currently working as a professor in Belgrade, Serbia and Cetinje, Montenegro.
The cinema-photography in "African Cats" was wonderful and the close-up photography was amazing - BUT the narration and anthropomorphizing of the cats was terrible and distracting. The animals have names and the cat families are depicted having adventures which might appeal more to child viewers than adults. Disney's legendary 1994 animated smash "The Lion King" had more emotional wallop..."
I love the fact that Skolimowski used this movie to renovate his actual London flat. . . and a great way to get a free film set and renovated apartment :-)
Diana Dors deserved an Oscar for her humorous role - I nearly fell out of my theater seat during her scene with Mike. . .
I would have gladly replaced my face embedded in Miss Dors' breasts for Mike's face being there and not enjoying the situation - then again if he had enjoyed it, the scene would have been less effective and funny. . . .
The story of two brothers was beautifully written, acted, and filmed - but the pretty images inserted through-out the film were pompous, unnecessary and cheapened an engaging story. I was especially disappointed in the lumia images from "Opus 161", they lacked the depth and mystery of real-time images from a Clavilux Jr. Thomas Wilfred never permitted his work to be filmed - and now I know why.
The subject matter (cave paintings) is outstanding but the film was sadly not Herzog's best - the music during the final panning of the cave paintings was especially annoying - I saw the film in 2D, not sure I want to spend the time or money to see it in 3D.
I disagree, the 3D didn't work with the sudden movements and the hand held camera. I found it annoying.
Thanks Eleni, I think I'll save my money! i'm not always a fan of hand held cameras in 2D - so 3D could be worse. . .
An extraordinary Spanish film by a great film-maker about an amazing realist artist . . . the combination can't be better.
The Early Short Films of Vlatko Gilic should be better known! They include: Mala svetlost Povratak na rodno drvo Homo Sapiens Homo Hormini Zategni dele Continue, Il In Continuo Dan vise Juda One Day More Moc These films would make an amazing/extraordinary Criterion ECLIPSE SERIES . . .
I enjoyed viewing "Deep End" recently - after so many since it's first showing, I forgot just how funny it was - Diana Dors deserved and Oscar for best supporting actress !! Reminded me a lot of Michelangelo Antonioni's "Red Desert" and "Blow Up" but with more humor and pathos. Why this movie dropped out of circulation and simply disappeared is beyond me. . .
A beautiful and haunting film - effective sounds both natural and musical - with little dialogue. Apparently it is essential to kill to survive, if only for a limited time. . . I loved this film. I was engaged through-out the film. . . viewed it last night at the Harvard Film Archive. . . Hopefully this film and others by Skolimowski will be available in the US on DVD.
Bela Tarr's films are where it's at . . . “I think censorship is always there. Then it was the censorship of the state and now it's the censorship of the market.” BT
A MASTERPIECE!! I'm still dancing through the rain-trenched terrain . . .
It's about time "El Sur" was made available.
