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Reviews
Rashômon (1950)
A bright philosophical lesson
"If we don't trust each other, this earth might as well be hell." This quotation could encapsulate the main ideas of the movie.
Rashomon is a film directed by Kurosawa and released in 1950 that centres around a mysterious and elusive murder in Japan. It traces the fortunes of three characters huddling in a ruined temple called "Rashomon, the temple of demons". Two of them, witnesses, becomes the narrators of the movie and relates the incident. The work addresses the issue of truth and its consequences.
Throughout the film, theses ideas found expression in the film's background. Indeed, the author succeeds in capturing the mood of the time : the weapons and costumes are well representative of the 10th century. An atmosphere of gloom pervades the scenes : rainy weather may epitomize the incertitude of human and the impossibility of seeing clearly. On top of that, suspense is sustained by the soundtrack and the slow shots that allow to enjoy the beauty of the lights. For example, the scene showing Machine Kÿo siting by a river can encapsulate the filming art of Kurosawa.
Despite everything, we need to qualify the remark. Behind his criticism, there is an undercurrent of hope. In the end, the protagonist's actions bespeak generosity and humanity that allow to stop the rain. This scene conjures up a sense of kindness and helps to attenuate the criticism. This evidence that Kurosawa is almost an anthropologist and sociologist : he gives a qualified overview of human. Anyway, his influence cannot be overestimated. To be seen and seen again !
Persona (1966)
An efficient work
The film called "Persona" directed by Igmar Bergman and released in 1966 centres around the complex and ambiguous relationship between the main characters : Elizabeth and Alma. If the plot of this movie seems to be quite simple, in reality it is no less efficient and brilliant for all that. Bergman manifests a concern for the complexity of psychologie and its manifestations. His obsession with reality and illusion which may be seen throughout the film is sketched at the beginning of this one : the mixture of television's scenes and animal's pictures reveals the power of images which are the witness of illusion, belief and representation.
The work draws attention to the search of truth and highlights especially a desperate quest for identity. In a world where actions and behaviours are the reflect of a role given by the society, Elizabeth, plunged into his own consciousness, surrenders herself to mutism as way to put away any "Persona" and to be at last herself.
As Jouvet said : « All is suspect, except the body and its sensations » and Bergman brilliantly illustrates this. The aesthetic of hands and eyes is the object of an important treatment. In order to hide feelings and emotions, some accessories are used such as glasses or hats.
In the wake of Jung, Bergman releases a gloomy and nearly nihilist reflexion on behaviour's human. The tension culminates in a climax when Elizabeth's husband appears and that Alma put the mask of his wife.
Without mentioning the wondrous black and white of Bergman and a lot of things, this work deserves to be watched as well an artistic way as a sociological and philosophical way.
Sleepers (1996)
Sleepers
Sleepers is one of theses films which disturbs, provokes and affects the audience deeply. It leaves some wounds, injuries, traces. This mixture of "GoodFellas" and "Once Upon a Time in America" directed brightly and brilliantly mingles a lot of subjects, issues and themes. While throughout the movie, intimacy, religion, thought seem to be the ways for enduring the violence, hoping and believing, trust, relationships, friendship seem to be the ways for saving each other. A great film.