This three-part, overly-long (by a factor of three) movie appears to have a dual focus: an examination of the brutal destruction of the human spirit by institutionalized marriage; and the study of human communication and connection in ways well known and a few physical means not so obvious. Lead characters are the victims (or will be) of past, present, and future divorce proceedings that come across as little more than legal emotional shakedowns. Script and direction are psychologically adroit. However, editing is over indulgent with way-too-much padding including most of a lecture on physical commutation and a book reading that goes on and on and on! The camera also often lingers on scenes long after the players have exited.
The four lead actresses hold the audience's attention in what looks like a combination of adlibbed and scripted dialog. Scenes can be exceptionally long (without cuts) that twist and turn but do not ramble. That said, many interactions between the main characters and marginal ones sound under rehearsed and artificial with deliveries more appropriate for a documentary Q&A than a melodrama. Actresses and actors playing thirty something characters appear to be 40-50 somethings.
Cinematography/lighting is often disappointing. There are many scenes where faces of speakers are hard to see or reduced to silhouettes. Some cleverly shot scenes show characters aboard moving transports, but it remains unclear just which character is moving until the camera pulls back. Sound, especially dialog recording and replacement, is excellent. Music can be fingers-in-ears awful starting with the opening credits. Subtitles are especially good; they are short yet comprehensive.
Worth watching, but only with a nearby fast-forward button. Viewed at JICC J-Film event. WILLIAM FLANIGAN.
The four lead actresses hold the audience's attention in what looks like a combination of adlibbed and scripted dialog. Scenes can be exceptionally long (without cuts) that twist and turn but do not ramble. That said, many interactions between the main characters and marginal ones sound under rehearsed and artificial with deliveries more appropriate for a documentary Q&A than a melodrama. Actresses and actors playing thirty something characters appear to be 40-50 somethings.
Cinematography/lighting is often disappointing. There are many scenes where faces of speakers are hard to see or reduced to silhouettes. Some cleverly shot scenes show characters aboard moving transports, but it remains unclear just which character is moving until the camera pulls back. Sound, especially dialog recording and replacement, is excellent. Music can be fingers-in-ears awful starting with the opening credits. Subtitles are especially good; they are short yet comprehensive.
Worth watching, but only with a nearby fast-forward button. Viewed at JICC J-Film event. WILLIAM FLANIGAN.