Several prisoners and one rather conflicted and sadistic guard and that of which they fantasise of and desire within the oppressive stone walls of their environment. They seek escape from their grey murky existence to a better place, even if it's through a little shared intimacy with one of their own gender. I absolutely loved this, it's so gripping and stimulating on several levels, it was a lot more engrossing than most dramatic short films that I've ever seen, and a lot of movies for that matter. It's simple yet also so complex, and it draws out much contemplation. It's frightfully old, but personally I find that the somewhat surreal, almost at points dreamlike style of the way that it's filmed gives it something of a timeless quality. It's probably considered quaint these days, but back in the 50s it must've taken some real guts to release it knowing the kind of backlash there would be, and that it likely would be banned for decades. It's not scandalous anymore but at its heart its message is still relevant and just as powerful, after all forbidden desire is forever. A lot of its imagery is that of exchanges of one kind or another. It's a lot more than mere pornography, I've no idea where the stuffed-shirts of the olden days were getting that from, there's barely enough explicit material in it for it to deserve that label. It's just to me not totally about that, I find that the overall effect of the imagery and music is one that's more warm and beautiful than anything else. And also it's not just of value to people who are of a certain preference, it's a brilliant work of pure emotion that can be enjoyed and interpreted in different ways to different people, provided they're secure enough in themselves to appreciate it first. And it doesn't need words either, were there any it would only spoil the mystery of it, it's all about what you feel with this short, what it expresses is beyond words, there's no need for them. It's so stirring..there's really no ignoring that this short is a pit of seething sensuality, every second of it is charged with sexual energy and passionate longing, with numerous loving lingering shots of naked male torsos, lips, chests and handsome faces. And the evocative score is used to sublime effect, I love how the beat rises in intensity till it becomes something that's primal and almost mesmerising, and it goes incredibly well together with the imagery - I was definitely hearing the song!!! I enjoy a lot of fantasy and horror stuff but time and again a lot of my favourite short films and movies and the ones that I find the most emotionally involving and fascinating are the ones with just everyday people and the things that they can do and feel for each other, and ones that demonstrate just how extraordinary, the so-called ordinary is. I find this to be a practically flawless, inspired work that is grim, blissful, raw and magnificent, and it was untold years ahead of its time.
Review of Song of Love
