Roosevelt Island
- Episode aired Oct 9, 2012
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1.24: Roosevelt Island by Rajiv Joseph: A fading time, a fading world and a fading man
I'm not sure how tightly some of the contributing writers to this series managed to cling to the idea of 'who are you America?' although in fairness it is not always possible to see their thought process behind some of the films. Joseph's is a case in point since it is a very specific piece that doesn't really work against such a broad question. However, as a film it works aside from some clunky moments towards the end where it spells out more than it needs to spell out. The film sees an older man addressing the camera about his times in espionage during the cold war; he talks from there through to the later years where people he used to spy on are now allies and indeed playing tennis with him on Roosevelt Island of all places.
Although it is a very specific character piece, I enjoyed it because of how real the character felt. He represents several things, all of them are in the past – including in some ways, himself too. He describes an older world with a certain enthusiasm – not that it was better perhaps, but he was then – and like many people, this is what affects him. It is the same reason every single person bemoans 'modern' music for not being as good as when they were growing up, not because it was better or worse, but just because it was for them at that time because of who and where they were as a person. So it is with this character, but also with the world situation.
The Cold War is over and former spies are no longer enemies. This is a change to the landscape of the world and one that has fewer and fewer people connected to it as time goes back. This is a tangible feeling to come from the film and it is nicely done through the character. Less well done is the delivery of the short; some of the edits are great but too many cannot hide the fragmented shoot – not helped by some shots which seem unnecessary. I do not think that it is a deal-breaker but I do much prefer these films when done in one take – and it is the same again here.
Although it is a very specific character piece, I enjoyed it because of how real the character felt. He represents several things, all of them are in the past – including in some ways, himself too. He describes an older world with a certain enthusiasm – not that it was better perhaps, but he was then – and like many people, this is what affects him. It is the same reason every single person bemoans 'modern' music for not being as good as when they were growing up, not because it was better or worse, but just because it was for them at that time because of who and where they were as a person. So it is with this character, but also with the world situation.
The Cold War is over and former spies are no longer enemies. This is a change to the landscape of the world and one that has fewer and fewer people connected to it as time goes back. This is a tangible feeling to come from the film and it is nicely done through the character. Less well done is the delivery of the short; some of the edits are great but too many cannot hide the fragmented shoot – not helped by some shots which seem unnecessary. I do not think that it is a deal-breaker but I do much prefer these films when done in one take – and it is the same again here.
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- bob the moo
- Oct 20, 2014
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