One of the most stylish films ever. Brilliant use of music with overlapping sounds combine with jump edits (a la Godard) and handheld camera in this self-consciously romantic and existential glimpse of life along the river through the eyes of the love-struck narrator.
At times the plot is relatively thin and unlikely e.g. there is little motive in Mardar and Moudan's death leap and the mermaid references are pure fantasy. The cinema verite style exites and generates a postmodern sense of cinematic involvement. Wonderful photography and inspired lighting combine with edits which snatch back and forth in thoughtful and dramatic intercuts.
Wonderful last lines as the narrator (who we never see - since he is the videographer) whimsically setances himself to closed-eyed oblivion till the next story begins.
At times the plot is relatively thin and unlikely e.g. there is little motive in Mardar and Moudan's death leap and the mermaid references are pure fantasy. The cinema verite style exites and generates a postmodern sense of cinematic involvement. Wonderful photography and inspired lighting combine with edits which snatch back and forth in thoughtful and dramatic intercuts.
Wonderful last lines as the narrator (who we never see - since he is the videographer) whimsically setances himself to closed-eyed oblivion till the next story begins.