Sunday 2 November 2014

Mini Reviews- Blind Spot edition #2

       

           Yes, I know that this is becoming a pattern. What can I say? Aguirre, my September blind spot, was really weird and Solaris, my October blind spot, was really boring, and I am a lazy ass who likes to put the blame on anything except herself. #fact



September- Aguirre, the Wrath of God (Dir: Werner Herzog, 1972)

Basic plot- An expedition into the Amazonian forests in the 16th century turns into a quest of ambition and madness, especially for the ruthless Aguirre.

          I really liked this film. I just did not know what to say about it (plus my vacations had started and I, you guessed it, got lazy). I have never seen a film that has been made like this. It is poetic, dreamlike, realistic- all at the same time. The only film that it reminded me of was Apocalypse Now which was actually influenced deeply by Aguirre itself.

          I loved the way ambition is depicted in this film and how it leads men to do things beyond the realm of rationality. And this is all conveyed through the performance of Klaus Kinski who played the eponymous character. He is one of the strangest looking actors I have ever seen and he embodies the spirit of this film with a particular crazed look in his eyes which is both scary and pitiable.

          This was my first Herzog film and it has whetted my curiosity. I really want to check out his other films, especially his other collaborations with Kinski.



October- Solaris (Dir: Andrei Tarkovsky, 1972)

Basic plot- The scientists stationed near the planet Solaris have been psychologically affected by it. Kelvin, a psychologist, is sent there to find out what is happening to them but he soon finds himself under Solaris' influence too.

          Okay, so here's the thing- I chose to start watching this film right when my vacation was ending and my college was starting aka Really Tiring Times. As a result, I fell asleep not once, not twice, but thrice while watching it and this was BEFORE the first half of the film was even over. So, I was already super impatient with this film and even though the second half is much more interesting, all I wanted is for it to get over as soon as possible. Finishing this film became like a chore,

           I gave this entire explanation because this has really coloured my opinion of the film. No, it is not fair and yes, I do intend to watch it again at some point, but at this moment, I do not like this film at all.

          I did appreciate the idea at its centre that explores a scientist's inner life and what happens when his mind is divided between his work and his personal needs. The film certainly looked gorgeous and it was also very poetic in its dialogue. It is just that the first 50 minutes of it passes without anything really happening and for me, the film never recovers from that.

          This was my first Tarkovsky film too and though I am still interested in checking out his other works, I don't think I will be doing that any time soon.




           I just want to end this by mentioning some of the parallels or points of differences between these two films that I could not help but compare, probably because these are both foreign classics from the 70s (the same year, actually) that I saw back-to-back. Both of them deal with discovery, ambition and madness, although in Solaris' case, the madness is brought about by love. I also liked that one is set in the past and the other in a vague time in the future. The way they are made is very different and both are striking in their own ways too. And of course, with both of them I have started on the filmographies of two major directors of world cinema so that's good..

11 comments:

  1. I remember I fell asleep watching Aguirre late one night once, great movie but it has such a dreamlike quality it just tipped me over the edge. I haven't seen Solaris, or anything by that director, yet. I've seen the George Clooney remake though, and I doubt the original can be as bad as that.

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    1. Re: Aguirre- completely understandable.
      I kinda of want to watch the Clooney one, just as an experiment.

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  2. The Herzog/Kinski collab is one of my favorite director/actor combos ever. And Aguirre is such a good film to start with. Really happy to hear that you dug it. Flick is a trip.

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    1. Yes, I'm very intrigued by the two, especially having read up a bit about their relationship. It's a trip alrite.

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  3. I had Solaris as a Blind Spot too. I didn't have you reaction though. It was a hard film to watch, best to do it in one viewing especially if it's the first Tarkovsky you watch. I too didn't finish it at once. But I think it's beautiful looking and overall it's poetic. You should give it another try after a while.

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    1. I know I should. I should have just watched it when I was well-rested or whatever. Ah well.

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  4. Oooh I didn't know Aguirre was on your blind spot list! Kinski is sooo weird man. We listened to an audiobook that he read in class and it was so strange and creepy. You should check out Fitzcarraldo, I believe it's from Herzog too.
    I completely get where you're coming from with Solaris. Haven't seen it but I have absolutely had the same experience with other films.

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    1. LOL audio book from Kinski :P I will definitely check out Fitzcarraldo soon-ish.

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  5. I loved both of these, but Tarkovsky, in particular, can be tough. His films are usually long and slow, but often beautiful and spellbinding. Hope you give him another shot, when you're not so tired. ;)

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    1. I really wanted to like Solaris. I will definitely give his films another shot.

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