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Reviews
Delta (2008)
Disagreeing with The Guardian: A response to P. Bradshaw and J. Patterson's criticism of the film
I must admit that I totally disagree with P. Bradshaw and J. Patterson's views on the film. I thought the movie's handling of subjects such as incest and rape is subtle and non-exploitative, leaving them as secondary elements within the structure of the film. None of the scenes involving these seem to be trying to shock the viewer, so I don't understand P. Bradshaw and J. Patterson's points.
To me 'Delta' is one of the discoveries of the year. It is beautiful as a sensorial experience and, like a classical piece, outstanding in its economy. Furthermore, and despite its maybe hasty resolution, it is far superior to Bela Tarr's latest effort, Mr Bradshaw.
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/may/07/delta-film-review) (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/may/02/incest-film-taboos-delta)
Clean, Shaven (1993)
One of the most impressive film debuts of American cinema in the last twenty years
One of the most impressive film debuts of American cinema in the last twenty years, 'Clean, Shaven' (1993) recalls the mastery of filmmakers like Robert Bresson and Terrence Malick. It is a bleak and painful journey into the realm of mental illness, but also a bold, humanist and poetic piece of cinema. Special mention should be made to the use of sound, here more than ever an essential element in the film and one which stands out to the point of being a fine work of art in itself. Lodge Kerrigan's next films -'Claire Dolan' (1998) and 'Keane' (2004)- have delivered all his debut promised and have placed the director among the most important auteurs in American cinema.
Tiro en la cabeza (2008)
Imperfect but much needed experiment.
Already in production when Rosales got several Goya awards for the outstanding "La soledad", "Tiro en la cabeza" echoes another experiment made by Alan Clarke in the late 1980s called "Elephant". It is a cold, austere work that doesn't allow the viewer to feel for or identify with the characters for most of its duration. Rosales makes sure of this by using an almost surveillance-like camera-work. It all feels very distant. Sound-wise, the Spanish filmmaker keep us away from the dialogue too; politically mistreated and overexploited feature in the Basque conflict that, although present in the film, we don't have access to. The general decontextualization and the suppression of the ideological element in the film help to accentuate the absurdity in the final events. Overall, an imperfect but much needed both exploration of the possibilities of cinema and view on the Basque conflict.
L'Atalante (1934)
...pure moving poetry.
Vigo's is probably one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen...it was my second encounter with him...the first one being 'A Propos De Nice', which I found interesting...I was aware of 'L'Atalante's' status as 'a classic'...still didn't expect it would affect me this much...half an hour in and I couldn't believe my eyes...not that 'L'Atalante' is just about memorable 'moments', but I had lost count of how many of these I had been able to experience by then...the rhythm of the film felt close to perfection and some of the editing blew my mind, just like a Bresson's movie...and then you've got Michel Simon and his pets...and Jaubert's music...and a dazzling cinematography -the youngest of the Kaufman's clan included...and L'Atalante...pure moving poetry.
In einem Jahr mit 13 Monden (1978)
One of Fassbinder's most daring and experimental works.
"...Every 7th year is a Year of the Moon. Certain people, whose existence is predominantly determined by their feelings and emotions, are afflicted by unusually severe depressions in these Moon Years, comparable with those they suffer in years with 13 new moons, albeit less intense. And if a Moon Year coincides with a year of 13 new moons, they can often suffer major personal disasters. In the 20th century, there are six years when this dangerous conjunction occurs. After 1978, the year 1992 will again jeopardise the existence of many human beings...Frankfurt is a place whose particular structure virtually provokes biographies like this one -or at least doesn't make them seem particularly unusual. Frankfurt is a town where you run into all the general contradictions of society at every street-corner, incessantly. Or at least, if you don't stumble over THEM immediately, the contradictions that are being fairly successfully ironed out everywhere else" (RWF)