Film making is art. That art has been buried in the mass production of films and commercialisation which is understandable these days but just like music, there are a whole host of film makers who make their own films regardless of current trends of studio expectancy
Films just like music are a highly personal experience or at least I hope they are. Just as the commercial world of music tells us that we should be listening to this or that artist through media outlets and most of us ignore that and have our opinions (and quite rightly so), the same is applicable for movies.
There is a whole host of films out there (some with major studio back up admittedly) that beg to be seen even if it is just once to illustrate the sheer diversity of what is out there under the radar or indeed; misunderstood by the mainstream and remain seemingly inaccessible.
As film is primarily a visual medium I am disillusioned with the lack of originality out there when I watch films. I want films to use colour,framing and camera angles as well as audio effects and manipulation to offer me something different.
I don't always look for this and I make no secret of my love for B movies, extreme horror and social realism films but I know what to expect from them and the film makers make no apologies to what they are making. What I miss is a film made with passion and a little forethought and individuality.
So in this thread I will post about films that you may or may not have heard of that are just that little bit different from the usual. This is almost certainly not a thread that I throw up films with original plots to justify their merits or some unknown B movie. I am looking for something more than that. I want to talk about films that look different, smell different and leave an indelible mark on you even if you don't enjoy the whole of it you can enjoy the sum of it's parts.
I will start with a film that many people know and that is:
For my reviews the plot will take a back seat a lot of the time as I want to concentrate on the film as a whole.
The film is basically about everlasting love and the possibility of reincarnation. The film is set in 3 time periods : the 16th century, the present day and 2500 A.D.
The film runs at just over 90 mins and considering the sheer breadth of it's narrative that is a relatively short time. Each era is interwoven into each other yet the set design is distinctively different as is the music. Reds and oranges are used for the 16th century matching the brutish violent Spanish conquistador regime in which it is set but the present day is full of greys and whites mirroring the dissatisfaction of the present day living in inner city architecture yet the future is almost monochrome with a rare splash of colour. Is this because we just cannot see the future so the colours are irrelavant? I think this is what is conveyed perfectly.
The music used for the 16th century is light but littered with foreboding and the present day is ambient almost non-descript. The future is illusive, almost ephemeral and this is reflected well.
I watch this film and yearn for eternal life but ultimately know that it won't necessarily bring happiness or internal satisfaction but instead highlight our own foibles that are just part of our genetic make up. This is not a bad thing though.
I find this a film that doesn't really get to the core of philosophical ego dissection at all but it does keep me spellbound to a world and a universe through the use of colour and music that I am not allowed to understand and that is maybe a good thing.
I think this clip perfectly encapsulates what I am trying to say if I was better educated!