I bought the BFI rerelease Blu-ray (which apparently came out earlier this year) yesterday not knowing much about the movie other than it being one of Tilda Swinton's earliest roles and the cover looked suitably sci-fi. What I got was something else entirely.
The blurb describes Tilda Swinton's character Friendship as "an extraterrestrial... on a peace mission to Earth" who accidentally lands in war-torn Jordan in 1970 before meeting a Scottish war correspondent called Sullivan. I assumed then that it would begin with the two of them meeting for the first time and go from there but this doesn't happen. They have already met and are friends when the movie starts. This was the first sign I was in for a different kind of story than I bargained for.
If I had to describe what this film feels like, I'd say it feels like watching a stage play with one set. There's little in the way of immediate action or an overarching story to speak of, it's mainly Friendship and Sullivan talking to each other in their respective hotel rooms as we move through the month of September. Friendship talks about the things they've seen since arriving on Earth and world weary Sullivan talks about human nature. This is presented in a way similar to a historical documentary with very slight story elements scattered here and there. We will have a scene where the two talk while gunfire erupts outside and then it'll fade to black and the next scene in a different part of the hotel room will begin. This film puts a lot onto the shoulders of the actors to carry it through and thankfully they deliver.
At least Tilda Swinton does, she makes you believe in what she's saying and that she's from another world. Bill Paterson feels like he's reading from the script while he's performing. His performance consists of him drinking Whiskey, talking about territory and being somewhat interested in Friendships background.
There's a scene later on in the movie that has a peculiar payoff where Sullivan steals some of Friendships translator equipment (which are in the shape of long hexagon cylinders) and they begin to emit noise while he's trying to sleep. He gets Friendship and admits he took them, and Friendship gives one to him to keep as a gift. Later on, Sullivan's daughter at home takes Friendships translator device and has it translated to videotape (somehow. I'm not sure. It was just a solid red cylinder before. Who did she take it to?) and we see what Friendship's impression of Earth was in the end, which is quite vague.
I can't lie and say that I was totally invested watching this film, as often it felt like people talking without any purpose, but it is unique and carried by a great performance by Tilda Swinton. It's an interesting movie, and has a weird place now on my shelf.
The blurb describes Tilda Swinton's character Friendship as "an extraterrestrial... on a peace mission to Earth" who accidentally lands in war-torn Jordan in 1970 before meeting a Scottish war correspondent called Sullivan. I assumed then that it would begin with the two of them meeting for the first time and go from there but this doesn't happen. They have already met and are friends when the movie starts. This was the first sign I was in for a different kind of story than I bargained for.
If I had to describe what this film feels like, I'd say it feels like watching a stage play with one set. There's little in the way of immediate action or an overarching story to speak of, it's mainly Friendship and Sullivan talking to each other in their respective hotel rooms as we move through the month of September. Friendship talks about the things they've seen since arriving on Earth and world weary Sullivan talks about human nature. This is presented in a way similar to a historical documentary with very slight story elements scattered here and there. We will have a scene where the two talk while gunfire erupts outside and then it'll fade to black and the next scene in a different part of the hotel room will begin. This film puts a lot onto the shoulders of the actors to carry it through and thankfully they deliver.
At least Tilda Swinton does, she makes you believe in what she's saying and that she's from another world. Bill Paterson feels like he's reading from the script while he's performing. His performance consists of him drinking Whiskey, talking about territory and being somewhat interested in Friendships background.
There's a scene later on in the movie that has a peculiar payoff where Sullivan steals some of Friendships translator equipment (which are in the shape of long hexagon cylinders) and they begin to emit noise while he's trying to sleep. He gets Friendship and admits he took them, and Friendship gives one to him to keep as a gift. Later on, Sullivan's daughter at home takes Friendships translator device and has it translated to videotape (somehow. I'm not sure. It was just a solid red cylinder before. Who did she take it to?) and we see what Friendship's impression of Earth was in the end, which is quite vague.
I can't lie and say that I was totally invested watching this film, as often it felt like people talking without any purpose, but it is unique and carried by a great performance by Tilda Swinton. It's an interesting movie, and has a weird place now on my shelf.