From Bela Tarr, "Damnation."

Films/DVD Asylum

Movies from comedy to drama to your favorite Hollyweird Star.

One of the most brilliant opening shots I've ever seen, on many levels.
This film, reportedly, was one of Susan Sontag's favorites. Well, I never understood Susan very well and what she saw in this to love it so is a mystery, too.
It is almost a very good film but, like the well-made soufflÃ© that falls, it never reaches its potential: still, it most definitely is worth seeing. You will with great difficulty get much of it out of your head.
A middle-aged, sallow-faced man desperately is in love with a married cabaret singer who tolerates his attentions, much to her husband's consternation.
I almost continued to recount this rather plebeian story but what's the purpose? Plot is secondary to mood in Tarr's films and this is no exception.
The leaden pace, the holding of shots slightly off center for long periods, the darkness of the settings, beaten-looking, rain-soaked dogs furtively moving among depressed urban and rural landscapes... yes, this is a Tarr film. What keeps it from equalling or surpassing "Wreckmeister Symphonies" is the exaggeration of these things. We become conscious of too much craft and too little art.
Still, I very much wish to see this film again... and soon.
Kind of like the attraction I used to feel for "darker" women that treated me badly, I'd guess.

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Parts Connexion

Topic - From Bela Tarr, "Damnation." - tinear 17:41:28 01/17/07 (3)

I will write that down, but... - Victor Khomenko 17:56:17 01/17/07 (2)

A snippet of an interesting review of "Werckmeister Harmonies" and linking it to - tinear 04:36:20 01/19/07 (0)

WS was Marx Bros. compared to Damnation. Still, with that - tinear 04:43:06 01/18/07 (0)

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