The film first caught my attention primarily after seeing Blur's memorable video of their great song "To the End", the pristine black and white of the film ornamenting the strange acting and soaring track. "Last Year at Marienbad" (L'année dernière à Marienbad) takes the Experimental - Avant Garde and melds it into a tale of traditional romance. In an atmosphere of doubt and memory a man and a woman struggle with the past. With a panorama of aesthetic black and white, opulent baroque interiors, picture - perfect landscapes and designer clothing the movie is as much style, mood and atmosphere as substance. The juggling of time, eccentric acting and poetic script convey a surreal dreamlike reality that leaves the viewer somewhat suspended between space and time. I viewed this primarily to see Delphine Seyrig and her elegant, stylish demeanor topped by her striking features justify her being one of my all-time cinematic crushes. As with these kinds of flicks it certainly isn't for everyone - my love for all things different made me endure and tolerate this from start to finish; I doubt Joe Lumberjack will unearth the artistic sonorities of the story which is so doggedly derivative it's ripe for parody. One of those works you won't care much for but will never forget, "Last Year at Marienbad" is where art gets bored with itself and decides to trek uncharted waters, for better or worse. And we should all be grateful and thankful for it.
Review of Last Year at Marienbad
