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The admittedly low res trailer is now available.

It looks very promising, with perhaps a little touch of the hat to Ordet thrown into the mix. Really I would be pleased to see Reygadas honored at Cannes as both his previous features are superb.

Esquire critic and ScreenGrab blogger Mike D'Angelo has shit himself over it.

Had to add this take from Screen Daily as it suggests the tenor of critique we're dealing with for the most part.

The second self-indulgence is the film's length (nearly two and a half hours) which is, finally, a long time to sit through a film that is composed nearly completely of static still shots in which, classically, nothing happens.

Or everything happens.

It must also be said that the deliberateness of Reygadas' earlier films was redeemed by powerful emotional moments, especially in Battle Of Heaven, that quickened the blood and stirred the heart and soul. Alas, that is never the case in the new film, and one must finally ask toward what end is so much rigorous aesthetic discipline aimed.

A better question to ask is this one: Why the hell must it be aimed anywhere specific? Why an "end" and not a "motion"? It's like the question: "what were you trying to achieve with...?"

To put it succinctly, arthouse cinema is performing worse at the box office than ever and it's open season in the trades on anything that remotely whiffs of "pretention" (ie. imagination / originality / style). Booing at a Bela Tarr movie sums it all up, really.

Nothing wrote:To put it succinctly, arthouse cinema is performing worse at the box office than ever and it's open season in the trades on anything that remotely whiffs of "pretention" (ie. imagination / originality / style). Booing at a Bela Tarr movie sums it all up, really.

Though I didn't boo at the Tarr at Cannes, I thought it was pretty awful. I just saw the Reygadas remake of Ordet, which I skipped at Cannes, at the AFI Fest in Los Angeles, however, and though I didn't care for his earlier films, I thought this one was just jiffy. For me, it's way more dramatic. Despite its "slow" pace, it builds nicely towards its Dreyerian conclusion. The actresses are excellent and interesting looking - the main male character, less successful - and the camera's focus on the children's faces is fresh. For my money, better than the Dreyer source. [Sacrilege, I know.]

that trailer on the first post made me want to see this movie more than anything else I've seen on it. I normally try to avoid Reygadas, but I'm really excited for this.

Saw it at the AFI fest too, felt it was entirely bracing. Out-of-this-world film experience. It feels like I've just witnessed a miracle

It's my most-anticipated film at the moment. Unfortunately it'll probably still be a while before I have a chance to see it, and it might have to be on DVD.

Official website.

Still no US distribution. Perhaps in a few more months once the price goes down Strand or Tartan USA will pick it up. At Palm Pictures, the guy who decides these types of things said to me: "It's pretty good, but where's the audience?" I think this sums up the feeling of most small distribution companies attitude about foreign language art films at the moment.

chaddoli wrote:Still no US distribution. Perhaps in a few more months once the price goes down Strand or Tartan USA will pick it up.

The print that showed at the AFI fest had a Tartan logo attached to it. Maybe the UK distrib?

Tartan are distributing this in the UK, and it's hitting the arthouse circuit on Friday. I enjoyed the film immensely, and it really does need to be seen on 35mm - Reygadas's widescreen composition is remarkably expansive at times, and the soundtrack is often as violent (the thundering rainfall as Esther leaves Johan at the side of the road) as it is gentle (crickets at dawn, the parting of Esther's lips). The nod to Ordet is fascinating too - one shot of the deathbed is almost an exact replica of Dreyer's framing (for better or worse).

Hitting DVD in little more than a month.

Bloody hell, that was quick - a turn-around of only three and a half months. It was still playing in London the other week. After seeing it again, I'm convinced that Reygadas will make something extraordinary one day, and not in the least bit bothered that this isn't quite it. The little digressions (such as the children bathing) are just sublime, and the opening shot is a treat - is it really six minutes long?

John Cope wrote:Hitting DVD in little more than a month.

Wow, best DVD news of '08. Thank goodness for Tartan.

Just great... so I missed the screening of this film tonight (despite already paying $9 for tickets, plus I have tickets for Still Life during the next showing). It was the major film I wanted to see at the fest. What are the chances of this getting a wide-enough theatrical release to play in Portland or am I just screwed until the DVD or the slight possibility of an encore showing at the fest?

Cold Bishop wrote:Just great... so I missed the screening of this film tonight (despite already paying $9 for tickets, plus I have tickets for Still Life during the next showing). It was the major film I wanted to see at the fest. What are the chances of this getting a wide-enough theatrical release to play in Portland or am I just screwed until the DVD or the slight possibility of an encore showing at the fest?

Tartan owns US rights, I believe (they also released his last two domestically)... so if it does appear anywhere it will probably be Cinema 21.

I was there, tonight, and it was great. I did have some problems with it, but it was definitely stronger than almost every other film I've seen so far (at the Portland International Film Festival). At least this one knows what it's doing, even if it's not fully successful.

addition: I saw this again, and I can't believe how beautiful it was. The two hours just flew by for me (every time there was a reel change I couldn't believe it had been 20+ minutes). I was completely hypnotized from the first moment. The end was a bit jarring (Ordet is one of my favorite films), but so was the Jacques Brel moment. The second time I saw it I really just let it flow and the whole film washed over me. I wasn't even bothered by the anachronisms.

The Tartan UK DVD appears to have been pushed back to 14/04 (Amazon are still slating it as 24/03, but I'm sure they'll catch up).

foggy eyes wrote:The Tartan UK DVD appears to have been pushed back to 14/04 (Amazon are still slating it as 24/03, but I'm sure they'll catch up).

Damn, that's annoying. Good things come to those who wait and so forth I guess.

DVD Times review of the Tartan DVD - looks jolly good.

Perhaps a late comment, but that is one of the most silliest, meretricious trailers I've seen, and even worse is that it begs for the pretense of Ordet. I hope the film isn't the same sort of amateur medley.

I've seen it a few weeks ago without having any clue about it. The picture (image) is quite beautiful, those slow movements are something to see. Just the very first shot is incredible. But seeing it after a day of festival proved to hard for me; I almost fell asleep!

But then at the end I somehow thought it was like a "Ordet II" or a remake, or something. At first I just thought the final setting (decor) was similar and okay sure but then I couldn't bare it: same thing! I failed to appreciate that because it came so suddenly to me and it puzzled me. These things confuse me.

The first time I saw the film, I was quite annoyed by several elements in the film (the Ordet moment, Jacques Brel, etc...). But after the second screening (I attended both screenings at the Portland International Film Festival) those moments seemed to melt away for me. Both times I was hypnotized, I was shocked each time the reel-change marks appeared (has it really been 20 minutes?). I have to say that despite these 'annoying' moments (that, as I said before, become less distracting over time) this film garners my full respect and support. I simply wish more films were like this (ponderous, intelligent, humane and beautifully shot). I really cannot wait to see what Reygadas does next.

Yes I wondered about Brel? I'm just glad he showed up because I'm a fan, but that's it ! The song is Les Bonbons '67, some kind of sequel of a big hit, Les Bonbons.
My guess is that I'll have to see it again.

Saturnome wrote:Yes I wondered about Brel? I'm just glad he showed up because I'm a fan, but that's it ! The song is Les Bonbons '67, some kind of sequel of a big hit, Les Bonbons.
My guess is that I'll have to see it again.

Wondered about Brel? You must not speak French. It was very timely. Perfect.