Films Indexed
- Director: Robert Bresson
- Year: 1967
Tale and performance
The camera always seems to look at its lead character’s life slightly askance, as if it was somehow recapitulating the clearly warped view of life Mouchette owns. In essence, the film called Mouchette recapitulates the point of view of its character Mouchette, which allows the viewer to both ‘feel’ a bit of the character’s warp, while also being able to step back and intellectually distance oneself and ‘understand’ the character’s warp.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
- Director: Tim Burton
- Year: 2010
A manifesto for the imagination
Naturally, the moral of Burton’s story is that freedom and imagination must triumph over conformism. As Alice’s father told her, all the best people are completely bonkers. But the moral is no less appealing for being predictable, and there are a few suprises and twists in the telling of the story.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
- Director: Max Ophlus
- Year: 1948
Hamlet rewritten for Mills and Boon
Theses have been written about how subversive she is as a character, how her refusal to adopt a conventional role as either seductress or respectable wife is a kind of revolt against social expectations. But if you had a friend who behaved as Lisa does, you would start with a serious talking-to and work your way towards having her sectioned.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
- Director: Kon Ichikawa
- Year: 1956
A disarming perspective on war
This film, while political, is not a slice of realism. It has symbolism and allegory throughout. British racism, as example, towards natives and Indians, is never shown, but it existed. Ichikawa’s aim was to clearly demonstrate the quest for humanity, embodied in Mizushima, but aimed at the viewers.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
- Director: Martin Campbell
- Year: 2010
It’s tough being a man these days
The obvious points of reference are films like Taken and television programs like 24. Yet unlike Bryan Mills or Jack Bauer, who never stumble or display weakness, Tommy Craven struggles from the point of his daughter’s death; we see that behind the icy exterior of a man who knows what do and how to do it there is weakness and doubt.
Thursday, February 04, 2010
