Henry Jaglom on DVD
Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 3:03 am
Exciting news for Jaglom fans: three of his finest, most fascinating works are finally being released on DVD. The three titles are Tracks, New Year's Day and, perhaps most notably, Someone to Love. All from Paramount video on December 5.
I have to admit I'm a particular fan of New Year's Day as it was my first exposure to Jaglom's world and I was immediately smitten (a term I think he'd appreciate). That particular work seems to get short shrift in retrospectives and career profiles but I think it's just as subtle and incisive as any of his more well known pictures. In fact, he seemed to get at his characters' hidden vulnerabilities in an especially careful, precise way here; but this is clearly a subjective call. What allows Jaglom's emotional character studies to flourish is the construction of an arena of time and space which sustains and encourages the kind of longueurs in which people become willing to expose themselves--the relaxed atmosphere of the New Year's celebration here is perfectly meandering and suited for the task.
This was also around the time I was just becoming aware of Jon Jost's work and these two discoveries enhanced one another. Though their technique and intent could not be more different, their very real and clear sympathy for the human beings they observed was bracing in the climate of the time (and still is); the patience displayed in these observations forges a rare union between the two artists. Jost appears to be the more rigorous filmmaker but Jaglom's rigor is displayed in ways other than pure formalism. His emphasis is on human fragility and the value of that; his worth comes in the way that he also acknowledges the cruelty and bitterness that tenderness attracts or that accompanies it. Jaglom never denies that those most in touch with their feelings can be the very ones who are most selfish or desperately needy. He doesn't play apologist for that; he sees it as an inevitability to be constantly contended with.
On another note, it's nice to have Tracks available finally as its loose sequel Sitting Ducks has been on DVD for awhile.
I have to admit I'm a particular fan of New Year's Day as it was my first exposure to Jaglom's world and I was immediately smitten (a term I think he'd appreciate). That particular work seems to get short shrift in retrospectives and career profiles but I think it's just as subtle and incisive as any of his more well known pictures. In fact, he seemed to get at his characters' hidden vulnerabilities in an especially careful, precise way here; but this is clearly a subjective call. What allows Jaglom's emotional character studies to flourish is the construction of an arena of time and space which sustains and encourages the kind of longueurs in which people become willing to expose themselves--the relaxed atmosphere of the New Year's celebration here is perfectly meandering and suited for the task.
This was also around the time I was just becoming aware of Jon Jost's work and these two discoveries enhanced one another. Though their technique and intent could not be more different, their very real and clear sympathy for the human beings they observed was bracing in the climate of the time (and still is); the patience displayed in these observations forges a rare union between the two artists. Jost appears to be the more rigorous filmmaker but Jaglom's rigor is displayed in ways other than pure formalism. His emphasis is on human fragility and the value of that; his worth comes in the way that he also acknowledges the cruelty and bitterness that tenderness attracts or that accompanies it. Jaglom never denies that those most in touch with their feelings can be the very ones who are most selfish or desperately needy. He doesn't play apologist for that; he sees it as an inevitability to be constantly contended with.
On another note, it's nice to have Tracks available finally as its loose sequel Sitting Ducks has been on DVD for awhile.