If you can find this film, and can take slow-moving cinema, definitely pick it up. I came to it via Spirit of the Beehive, Victor Erice's first film, made in 1973. This film was his third, made nearly twenty years later. It's somewhat sad that such a marvelous artist as Erice has only produced three films in almost thirty years now, but I think Quince Tree of the Sun works in one way as a forgiveness for that fact. This film teaches nothing if not patience, not only in the viewer, but in the artist. It is a documentary about a painter who spends September through December painting a quince tree. Not a picture of one, mind you, or even one he has memorized. He sets up an elaborate system so that he can paint the tree as it exists before him. We see him working well at first, with the sun hitting the tree and its fruit exactly how the painter wishes. But then the weather becomes uncooperative for a long period of time. It's cloudy or rainy, and the sun is not working the way that it's supposed to. By the time it becomes sunny again, the Earth has moved, and all hope of painting it in the way he originally intedended is squandered. Of course he can't just wait until the next year. The fruit and leaves will be different.
During the film, there are several discussions about art and life. All are interesting. Too bad the subtitles on the Facets video are kind of hard to read at times. There is a lot to get out of it, surely more than I did in one viewing. A second viewing is definitely in order if I have time before I have to return the video. It is one of those films that suggests that there is a ton more under the surface that will take just a tiny bit of digging. Of course, this film would bore the socks off of 99% or more of the population. I definitely suggest it to fans of Spirit of the Beehive. Also, fans of Andrei Tarkovsky should check it out, this and Spirit of the Beehive. I generally think of Tarkovsky as the most original of all film artists, but Erice may be the most similar. He's a very good auteur for Tarkovsky fans because he is similar, but he has a remarkable essence all his own. Perhaps I would consider him above Tarkovsky, if only Erice would make more films. But, as this film has delicately taught me, an artist must work at his own pace. 9/10.
During the film, there are several discussions about art and life. All are interesting. Too bad the subtitles on the Facets video are kind of hard to read at times. There is a lot to get out of it, surely more than I did in one viewing. A second viewing is definitely in order if I have time before I have to return the video. It is one of those films that suggests that there is a ton more under the surface that will take just a tiny bit of digging. Of course, this film would bore the socks off of 99% or more of the population. I definitely suggest it to fans of Spirit of the Beehive. Also, fans of Andrei Tarkovsky should check it out, this and Spirit of the Beehive. I generally think of Tarkovsky as the most original of all film artists, but Erice may be the most similar. He's a very good auteur for Tarkovsky fans because he is similar, but he has a remarkable essence all his own. Perhaps I would consider him above Tarkovsky, if only Erice would make more films. But, as this film has delicately taught me, an artist must work at his own pace. 9/10.