Favorite films are the best I've seen for the first time (monthly update)
Favorite films
Recent activity
AllRecent reviews
More-
-
The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum 1939
I find this tremendously heartfelt than Oharu or Chikamatsu, simply because the story is in a much more forgiving period (Meiji instead of Edo) but the class division remains. Also, "the film" to understand the world of Kabuki?
Technically, Mizoguchi deep staging at its purest, with his trademark one scene one shot. This film informs not just his own following major works but also influences future filmmakers. So many of simple camera movements cannot be achieved without its elaborate set design.
Translated from by
Popular reviews
More-
Let the Summer Never Come Again 2017
Low resolution images never looked so beautiful.
Part tribute to silent film, both fiction and non-fiction. Part novelistic storytelling like Mariano Llinas' Extraordinary Stories albeit in the opposite end of the spectrum with minimum narrations. And the largest portion is devoted to the portrait of city life in Georgia. The entire film functions as how our brain processes memories. Details are sparse, images are fuzzy, but the feelings will remain.
Translated from by -
Braguino 2017
The most interesting thing about Braguino is that we only see "the feud" through Braguines' POV. The hatred towards Kilines becomes more and more pathological as the film goes on. Furthermore, Braguine children have to inherit this animosity when they barely understand the reason. The scene of both families' kids staring at each other in particular creates an eerie atmosphere. Ironically, instead of away from civilization, Braguines are preoccupied with the thoughts about other human beings.
Translated from by
