Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Victor Khomenko on November 03, 1999 at 06:05:59:

In Reply to: Re: Jean Gabin... Zbigniev Cybulski... posted by TAFKA Steve on November 03, 1999 at 05:17:01:

***The only Wajda films I've seen were "Man Of Iron" and "Danton". Missed his more recent "Korczak" which was written by his "student" Agnieska Holland.

Wajda is without a question one of the greatest directors in the history - right there with the best. It is surprizing how little known he is here, however. His name is very big in Europe and we were lucky enough to see many of his works in Russia where the Polish cinema is extremely respected, as it should be. It seems that here many things Polish are simply lumped together with silly Polish jokes. Quite unfortunate, because the Poles have produced many things (not just in movies) that are full of style and essence - in that respect many place them right next to the French, and rightly so.

I looked briefly at his filmography and the movies like the Ashes, Ashes and Diamonds, Canal, etc are musts for everyone, even petew, until he gets that dreaded DVD that is... Then it is Lost in Space for him...

When speaking of Wajda, one naturally brings up many great names mostly unknown here - folks like Olbrychski, Cybulski, Tyszkievicz, Raksa (boy, DID I have a crash on her as teenager! She is sooo beautiful, cold maybe, but man... oh, man...)

But then, maybe I know why those actors are not better known here - just try to spell their names...

***The actor who I haven't seen for a long time is Alain Delon. I was watching Melville's "Le Samourai" a year ago and wondered what happen to this icy actor--almost a human mannequin (and I mean that in a good way, not like Charlie Sheen).

Mannequin as a very good word when describing Alain. In many ways he is like Al Gore - a wooden stiff. He is sooo absorbed into watching himself, he is disgusting. I can only think of one role where he did well - in the Rocco and his Brothers. In that respect he maybe another single film actor, much like Ryan O'Neal.

As far as I know mut much happend to him - he made a LOT of so-so movies of the Le Samourai kind.