What an amazing picture. Some of the wierdest acting I've ever seen, this is definitely NOT a movie for someone who thinks
that modern Hollywood has the lock on filmmaking.
The lighting is harsh, usually from the side and below, so
that many times the nose of an actor shades one of the eyes.
And those eyes! Never have I seen so much use of the eyeball in a movie. Lots of shifting, rolling, wide open eyes, in
closeup full frame face shots. The acting is often robotic,
and there are lots of shots with two actors right face to
face, with synchronized expressions. I also loved the voices, especially Ivan's booming baritone, which is especially
effective coming from a rather thin looking man.
But it all works! I found myself laughing over and over at the bizarre camera, lighting and acting methods employed.
Whether this humor is intentional or not, I don't know or
care. A laugh is a laugh. Which is not to discount the
dramatic effects that came at the same time. It's just
the kind of laughter that comes from the excitement of
seeing such boldness of art.
Alas, the movie suffers from technical problems, which
can be forgiven due to the time and place in which it was made. The sound quality is poor, and the subtitles are
impossible to read at times, although 3/4 of the time I just ignored them. It's pretty easy to tell what's going on.
Again, this film is not for everyone, but it is a must for any serious student of filmmaking. It's a refreshing and education departure from Hollywood's "realism is everything" mentality.
that modern Hollywood has the lock on filmmaking.
The lighting is harsh, usually from the side and below, so
that many times the nose of an actor shades one of the eyes.
And those eyes! Never have I seen so much use of the eyeball in a movie. Lots of shifting, rolling, wide open eyes, in
closeup full frame face shots. The acting is often robotic,
and there are lots of shots with two actors right face to
face, with synchronized expressions. I also loved the voices, especially Ivan's booming baritone, which is especially
effective coming from a rather thin looking man.
But it all works! I found myself laughing over and over at the bizarre camera, lighting and acting methods employed.
Whether this humor is intentional or not, I don't know or
care. A laugh is a laugh. Which is not to discount the
dramatic effects that came at the same time. It's just
the kind of laughter that comes from the excitement of
seeing such boldness of art.
Alas, the movie suffers from technical problems, which
can be forgiven due to the time and place in which it was made. The sound quality is poor, and the subtitles are
impossible to read at times, although 3/4 of the time I just ignored them. It's pretty easy to tell what's going on.
Again, this film is not for everyone, but it is a must for any serious student of filmmaking. It's a refreshing and education departure from Hollywood's "realism is everything" mentality.