Tristan Ortega

Tristan Ortega

Favorite films

  • Pharos of Chaos
  • La Jetée
  • Songs from the Second Floor
  • Close-Up

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  • The Structure of Crystal

    ★★★★★

  • Mala Noche

    ★★★★

  • This Magnificent Cake!

    ★★★

  • A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence

    ★★★★

Recent reviews

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  • The Structure of Crystal

    The Structure of Crystal

    ★★★★★

    This is what dialogue should be like!

    In this film, you have two friends of opposing life philosophies down to the core, yet they co-exist within a given space and time -- harmoniously, may I say at that. Yes, they butt heads both subtly and explicitly, but they acknowledge each other's path as unique and that each is unable to indoctrinate the other.

    I think this is only possible when history and context is acknowledge and respected; and of course, the beliefs, in the first place, aren't trumping any universal human values.

  • Mala Noche

    Mala Noche

    ★★★★

    Knowing that the story is rooted in reality, allows for many of its flaws (ethics and story-wise) to exist without critique (or a less aggressive form of such) -- that's just the leeway we have to give for humanity and truth.

    What I can say, however, is that the form is effective in bringing us into this world of undefinition -- where labels are non-existent and emotion and primal instincts are what drives action.

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  • Playing

    Playing

    ★★★★½

    I think the closest cinema will ever get to portraying reality is by portraying the portrayal of reality.

    Playing is an interesting film that explores character, personality, and identity. There is a blending of truth and interpretation in this film that makes me ponder on what truly makes an individual unique when all our responses to pain, grief, loss, love, and other phenomena are quite similar. So similar to the point that when placed side-by-side, you can associate the response to anyone and everyone.

  • Mirror

    Mirror

    ★★★★½

    I'm not going to pretend like I grasped what I just witnessed.

    Good shit.

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