Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by tinear (A) on October 07, 2006 at 14:33:14

"Prefab People:" one of the most eviscerating views of marriage since... Bergman's.
The woman is an unholy terror but what saves her is the uncommonly perfect portrayal. I actually am not sure yet if I wasn't witnessing a documentary of a disentegrating marriage. The husband also was excellent, but his role was to "support" her bravura. If you think you've seen a performance of a woman unhinged, think again.
"Werckmeister Harmonies:" seldom does one see a film which blows up the cinematic world and reconstructs it in a unique vision.
So many scenes which, Eisenstein-like, will affix themselves to your psyche.
Evolution, political philosophy, the role of art in civilization, the fate of a "good man..." all are covered without lenghty "lecturing."
In an interview, Tarr said he only had 39 cuts (some reviews erroneously report 29) and used 5 photographers on this film. He also said the first scene is the longest and only stopped at 10+ minutes because that's the full length of the film spools!
Tarr's film vision is as unique as Tarkovsky or Kubrick and, like those two masters, cannot easily be described. Elements of Kafka, Dostoyevsky, and Beckett resonate but in a manner as individualistic as a Rauschenberg "collage."
The central character, Janos Valushka, brilliantly is portrayed: you will not soon forget him.
Life is short and there are many, many brilliant directors working today: Bela Tarr is in the forefront-- if you haven't seen one of his films, be prepared to be disturbed, angered, and educated.