Criterion Film Club: Suggestions and General Discussion

[Drucker]

Hm the last sentence reads a bit funny, doesn't it?

[Mr Sausage]

We're going to try something a little different this time: there are a number of titles in the collection, bonus films or films in certain sets, that aren't entered into the random number generator we use to generate voting lists. Since we'll never get to vote for them unless someone picks them, swo17 has gone through and selected the most promising ones for this round of voting.

Vote away!

[domino harvey]

[domino harvey]

I'm voting for La Cotta because it's short and I already have the DVD. Would by that logic be okay with the Frampton or the Pialat (the short's on the MoC too for those who don't own the Criterion piss-edition). The Traveler is a full-length "bonus" film, FYI, and Herzog eating his shoe is hardly going to drive discussion

[swo17]

Herzog eating his shoe is hardly going to drive discussion

It's actually wall-to-wall Herzog talking about the creative process and the state of the film industry. Plenty there to discuss, I would think. He only performs the titular act to demonstrate his conviction.

That being said, I do think La cotta would be more up your alley (given your interest in films about youth).

[Drucker]

I picked Pialat because I have never seen anything by him. So I'm happy to change my vote...but I don't imagine I'll understand/be able to participate well in anything with Frampton.

[MichaelB]

Zorns Lemma is as good a starting point as any - it's certainly "difficult" (not least because it requires uninterrupted concentration for its full length), but the basic concept is easy enough to grasp.

[warren oates]

Voting for the Frampton too. I think it's a great film and agree that it's easy to get into, immediate and accessible in a way that a lot of the more intellectual or conceptual experimental films I've seen aren't. The Herzog/Blank is too short and the Kiarostami is a decent early effort that we only care about because of the work he's done since. If Kiarostami hadn't directed it, the film would be more interesting as a sociological document.

[zedz]

This is actually the most difficult poll we've had to date. I love all of those films and there's plenty to say about each and every one. I'd love to vote for Traveller, as it's a personal favourite, but the prospect of actually getting a forum discussion on an experimental film is way too tempting to pass up, so Zorns Lemma it is.

[Mr Sausage]

I also voted for Zorns Lemma, but I'm not confident in my ability to maintain the kind of uninterrupted concentration MichaelB said it requires. I'll give it a try, but I'll be looking forward to everyone else's comments.

[swo17]

I wouldn't say that Zorns Lemma demands your attention so much as it commands it!

[zedz]

If you've got the slightest trace of OCD, you probably won't be able to tear yourself away. Which should account for almost everybody here.

[Mr Sausage]

I think I fall more towards the ADD end if the spectrum, but good to know.

[MichaelB]

The crucial thing is that you can't watch it piecemeal - because of the very specific way that it seeks to exploit the viewer's language instinct and mental response to repetitive rote-learning, it simply won't work in the way that Frampton intended unless you watch the entire thing in one go with no distractions.

But it's less than an hour long, so it's not that hard to find the time.

[Mr Sausage]

Zorns Lemma it is!

[domino harvey]

[Mr Sausage]

For his excellent contributions and unflagging presence in the film club, I've asked Drucker to curate this next vote.

[zedz]

Interesting selection, Drucker. Cleo is probably my favourite on that list, but I would LOVE a chance to get into a discussion on I Am Curious - Yellow, so that got my vote.

[Drucker]

I'm glad everything is getting a little love. I have seen none of these films nor any film by any of these directors. These have been at the top of my list of old releases to look into for a while.

[jiraffejustin]

I am a big fan of Clair's Under the Roofs of Paris, but I haven't seen À nous la liberté so it gets my vote.

[Mr Sausage]

Ballad of a Soldier it is!

[domino harvey]

[Mr Sausage]

Once again, we're voting for random films from the collection.

[Drucker]

Been dying to watch Threepenny Opera and was planning on getting it during a sale. I also need to watch Brute Force, but waiting for the Arrow blu to come out!

[Drucker]

I got the impression I Married a Witch was pretty light stuff. I know the film has its fans, but this is the Clair film we want to discuss?