Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Victor Khomenko (M) on March 13, 2002 at 11:19:58

In Reply to: Worlds away: the films of Sokurov posted by clarkjohnsen on March 09, 2002 at 07:26:54:

I am certainly not a student of that director's art, having seen just two of his works: Molokh and Taurus. These are definitely not the films for the American public and both offer something to remember... but not exactly in a good sense. Not like remembering a good diner, far from it. More like a horrible case of vomit after a night of heavy drinking. Between the two the Taurus is more transparent, provided one has good handle on the personalities involved - the film is less than helpful towards the uninitiated.

Russian artists in general get too much of an unneeded break from the Western critics. They know how to speculate on this favorable perception and take advantage. What should normally be considered cheap and low pretentious crap often goes for revelation, simply because it seems less than common to the Western eyes. In that atmosphere a lot of real trash is pushed into the perpetually wide open mouths of the naive Western intelligencia eager to embrace something different.

Is Sokurov one such phenomenon or is he trully talented? Hard for me to say based on just those two works. It is not like his life depends on my decision, so I am not struggling with that dilema much at all. I have more important things to keep me awake at nights. However, if you can get your hands on one of his films then it is probably well worth the rent fee. In terms of their sheer interest they will beat most of what is on the shelves today.