The Silent Twins (Jon Amiel, 1986)

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ranaing83 · #1 Post by **ranaing83** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:16 pm

The Silent Twins (1986)

Is anyone familiar with this film? Having just seen Dead Ringers again, I was searching for films with similar subjects, and this film, based on a true story, seems particularly interesting. Anyone know where I can get a hold of a copy, or if there is any way to see this? It seems the polar opposite of the types of films that Amiel is doing these days.

Also, any other suggestions on films dealing with identical twins? I already know about De Palma's "Sisters", which is next up for me on Netflix, and I've seen and love "The Other."

#2 Post by **swo17** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:22 pm

ranaing83 wrote:Also, any other suggestions on films dealing with identical twins? I already know about De Palma's "Sisters", which is next up for me on Netflix, and I've seen and love "The Other."

I didn't particularly care for it, but there's Twin Falls Idaho. Also, Adaptation, sort of.

Cold Bishop · #3 Post by **Cold Bishop** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:30 pm

Well, Greenaway's A Zed & Two Noughts is obvious if for no other reason than Cronenberg must have been inspired by it for Ringers.

thirtyframesasecond · Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:52 pm

I've not seen the film but the real life incident of the Gibbons sisters is fascinating.

Manic Street Preachers fans will know that 'Tsunami' was written about this.

colinr0380 · #5 Post by **colinr0380** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 1:40 am

I'm afraid I've not seen the Amiel film and cannot contribute anything meaningful about it, so instead I'll just add Brothers of the Head to the list.

The Fanciful Norwegian · Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:36 pm

Cold Bishop wrote:Well, Greenaway's A Zed & Two Noughts is obvious if for no other reason than Cronenberg must have been inspired by it for Ringers.

Yeah, but the twins in the Greenaway film aren't identical. In fact, I just looked it up and it seems the Deacon brothers aren't actually twins at all. Now I feel cheated >:(

jesus the mexican boi · Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:49 pm

I suppose it's more prologue than anything else, but Gorin's Poto and Cabengo is a fascinating treatment of twin girls developing their own language and impenetrable world. Hopefully we'll see the rumors come true and get this from Criterion this year.

colinr0380 · #8 Post by **colinr0380** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:18 pm

The Fanciful Norwegian wrote:Yeah, but the twins in the Greenaway film aren't identical. In fact, I just looked it up and it seems the Deacon brothers aren't actually twins at all. Now I feel cheated >:(

Greenaway talks about that in his commentary on the BFI disc. He said that he preferred to choose from a wider pool of similar, but not twin, actors rather than attempting the difficult task of trying to find identical twins who could also act to the required standard (and then talks about using differences in clothes, hair and so on to differentiate them at the start before slowly changing them so that they match in those areas by the end).

I don't know if that leaves you feeling more or less cheated! It is difficult - casting identical twins would provide an extra verisimilitude, but on the other hand it might be preferable to have the best actors for the part rather than trading on the actuality of their twinship just to add a talking point for the viewer (Since A Zed and Two Noughts is not exactly attempting realism, I'm inclined to be more lenient).

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