The 1999 Mini-List
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andyli
- Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:46 pm
Re: The 1999 Mini-List
Thanks for another year of arduous work of lists and stats, swo. Before we dive into hibernation and wake up 3 days before the final deadline for the decade poll, I just wanna say the whole viewing experience for the nineties project has given me so much joy and surprise, and I love how the year-long survey concludes with The Mission ending up listed in such a wonderful year. People haven't forgotten about this little gem despite the dire absence of a physical release!
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martin
- Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:16 pm
- Contact:
Re: The 1999 Mini-List
Adieu, plancher des vaches! (Otar Iosseliani)
I didn’t submit a list but I’m surprised this one didn’t get a single vote. It’s great. It’s beautifully shot without shot-reverse shots, and without reaction shots or over the shoulder shots. Some of the mise-en-scène reminds me of Rivette films from this time (it’s shot by William Lubtchansky, so it makes sense). There are some really complicated location shots where the camera follows a character, but then the character leaves the scene just when another person enters, and the camera follows this new character instead without any editing. One such instance is around 1h 17 mins to 1h 20 mins (PAL) when we see two consecutive shots, one of 1 minute, and one of 1½ minute shot live on the streets of Paris. Maybe it doesn’t seem too impressive considering Russian Ark and other films since then shot in a single take, but this is stunning and a joy to watch. And there are many similar shots throughout the film.
There’s not much dialogue, maybe 10 % of what we’d see in a Hollywood movie. It’s a bit like Beau travail or Rosette in that respect (to name a few other 1999 films). And some of the spoken dialogue is just «ça va?» anyway. It’s nice to watch a film where you’re not constantly bombarded with information you need to know to follow a plot, but when you have time to think and process the images you see. You don’t need a lot of exposition or explanation in this slightly absurdist tale.
If you’re not aware of this film, you should check it out. It must surely appeal to some of the criterionforum clientele.
Finally, this is not from the French Iosselani box set although I’m considering to get that one (assuming it’s still in print?). Some different labels actually released a couple of his films on DVD in Sweden 20 years ago and I bought them and enjoyed the films a lot at the time. This is the first time I'm rewatching any of them.
I didn’t submit a list but I’m surprised this one didn’t get a single vote. It’s great. It’s beautifully shot without shot-reverse shots, and without reaction shots or over the shoulder shots. Some of the mise-en-scène reminds me of Rivette films from this time (it’s shot by William Lubtchansky, so it makes sense). There are some really complicated location shots where the camera follows a character, but then the character leaves the scene just when another person enters, and the camera follows this new character instead without any editing. One such instance is around 1h 17 mins to 1h 20 mins (PAL) when we see two consecutive shots, one of 1 minute, and one of 1½ minute shot live on the streets of Paris. Maybe it doesn’t seem too impressive considering Russian Ark and other films since then shot in a single take, but this is stunning and a joy to watch. And there are many similar shots throughout the film.
There’s not much dialogue, maybe 10 % of what we’d see in a Hollywood movie. It’s a bit like Beau travail or Rosette in that respect (to name a few other 1999 films). And some of the spoken dialogue is just «ça va?» anyway. It’s nice to watch a film where you’re not constantly bombarded with information you need to know to follow a plot, but when you have time to think and process the images you see. You don’t need a lot of exposition or explanation in this slightly absurdist tale.
If you’re not aware of this film, you should check it out. It must surely appeal to some of the criterionforum clientele.
Finally, this is not from the French Iosselani box set although I’m considering to get that one (assuming it’s still in print?). Some different labels actually released a couple of his films on DVD in Sweden 20 years ago and I bought them and enjoyed the films a lot at the time. This is the first time I'm rewatching any of them.