Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by TG (i) on July 12, 2000 at 17:04:35:

In Reply to: Re: Some suggestions ... posted by edta on July 12, 2000 at 11:47:54:

>Celine and Julie Go Boating

A very odd French film about two women and a "haunted" house. Quite long & dreamlike - some folks hate it. By the way, it has nothing to do with boating - the title is actually a pun in French, and loosly translated it means (colloquially) "Celine & Julie Suspend Disbelief" or "Celine & Julie Let Their Imaginations Run Away".

>Lola Montez

A sort-of historical biopic about a real character, a courtesan who carried on an affair with the King of Bavaria. The story is straightforward, but for a film made in the mid-50s this was quite surreal in presentation. Probably hard to find.

>If

If was Lindsay Anderson's first of a trilogy of films (followed by Oh Lucky Man & Britannia Hospital) which brutally satirised the establishment, particularly the British political & social caste systems. "If" is set in a boy's boarding school, which is used as a metaphor for repressive society. This film is the perfect antidote to "Goodbye Mr Chips" B^)

>The Holy Mountain

We are in the presence of a genuine inspired insane genius - Alexandro Jodorowsky. If you have seen "El Topo", this is in the same style (!) but even further over the top. A young man seeks enlightenment, and becomes the follower of an alchemist who enlists the aid of companions (who are magical familiars conjured from the planets) to help him on the journey. Drugs, blood, magic, and a cast of freaks & hippies. Utterly surreal and just about impenetrable if you don't know anything about alchemy or ritual magic. You'll love it or hate it.

>Catch Us If You Can

A John Boorman film from 1965. This was an attempt to cash in on "A Hard Day's Night" by making a film with the then popular Dave Clark 5. It worked better than you might think and came out as something like a cross between "A Hard Day's Night" and a Cliff Richard film. Some scenes really do present a convincing portrait of 1960s "swinging" England. This will be hard to get hold of.

>Allegro Non Troppo

A must-see film. This is the "cool" version of Walt Disney's "Fantasia". Made on a small budget in Italy in the mid-70s, it uses the same formula of animations with an orchestral backing - but whereas "Fantasia" is pompous and a bit precious, "Allegro Non Troppo" is funny, moving & very clever. Don't miss it.

Cheers
TG