The WHF Film Club

[strapped for cash]

I assume, strapped, you have watched La Antena?

I have, and the two films' endings invite comparison. I'll say no more, since you're not officially discussing La antena yet, and you haven't watched Metropolis in full.

 

[expat_mike]

If anyone, like me, thought the idea / subject matter of one of our film choices, As if I am not There, was interesting but found the film a bit disappointing, can I recommend Incendies? Different war and, happily, a rather broader look at things but covering some similar themes, in my view much more effectively.

I will make a note of Incendies.

I found the film As if I am not There a bit disappointing as well, primarily because I did not feel the viewer ever got a real understanding of what the characters were thinking at key points during the story. So I read the book, and that explains the thoughts going through the characters minds much better - I wish that I had read the book before watching the film.

 

[expat_mike]

Maybe we should have December and January off this/next year to recharge the batteries?

Worth considering. I know that Christmas/New Year is supposed to be a holiday period, but each year I seem to get invited to even more meals/rugby/parties, leaving less time to recover by watching a film.

 

[BenLaw]

Have you watched anything good lately?

The last new film I saw that I found even remotely interesting was Nightcrawler.

If I can find the time I might pop out tomorrow to watch Foxcatcher.

Otherwise, not much, to be honest, though I've revisited a few classics on BD.

I liked the sound of Nightcrawler. Birdman looks like it could be very interesting too.

 

[BenLaw]

Sounds reasonable. I'm also happy to move straight onto Mike's film if people would rather!

No, I don't think that's necessary Ben. Shall we give it until the end of January to watch La Antena, then move onto Mike's film?

Sounds good to me.

 

[expat_mike]

Sounds reasonable. I'm also happy to move straight onto Mike's film if people would rather!

No, I don't think that's necessary Ben. Shall we give it until the end of January to watch La Antena, then move onto Mike's film?

I'm ok with that. I have bought a copy of Metropolis to watch, because I would like to explore Strappeds comments about the similarities between La Antena and Metropolis.

 

[BenLaw]

Watch it, I think you'd be very interested.

Thanks for the thorough responses, however lengthy the delay!

Apologies for not quoting in full. I'll certainly watch The Act of Killing at some point. Like yourself, I've many things to get on with before indulging myself recreationally.

My questions were based on what I've read of the documentary and potential critical/analytical/scholarly framings (excuse any pretentious phrasing).

Questions of authorship seem especially pertinent here, at least to me, because agency is carefully distributed among collaborators, with subjects seemingly involved in formal decisions.

Filmmaking is always a collaborative venture, but the exercise seems unusually democratic in this example. At the same time, the film may be purposefully constructed to create such an impression. Without detailed knowledge of production and post-production processes, it's difficult to reach any informed conclusions, and even tougher if, like me, you haven't seen the documentary.

Then there's the issue of the audience (which is never a monolithic entity), preconceptions, and inevitably diverse readings and appropriations. "Readers" (including critics) co-author texts, which leads to further questions about agency. Issues of authorship always get messy once you engage with the subject in any depth.

In any case, The Act of Killing seems a genuinely interesting case study with regard to the above.

Democratic isn't necessarily the word I'd use, otherwise I agree with the sentiment (subject as usual to your much greater familiarity and expertise on the issue). One never gets the sense that the director is allowing a sense of equality to the subjects (he occasionally confronts them, giving the sense that he was probably never deferential to them) and whilst they were given free reign in their own film making, there is no impression that the final cut of the released film has anything to do with them. Indeed, the film is obviously critical of their historical (and for some of them, present) actions, and some subjects show limited insight and no remorse. There is no sense that the filmmakers have any sympathy with those subjects beyond that which was necessary to develop a rapport to make the film. That's obviously not an uncommon feature where the interviewer has to get close to a subject where there is difficult subject matter.

Thats a a bit rambling but I'd be interested in your informed views when you've seen the film. It's definitely one I'll be buying - but not for a little while as 'dry January' also means buying no films and music for me this year!

 

[BenLaw]

I assume, strapped, you have watched La Antena?

I have, and the two films' endings invite comparison. I'll say no more, since you're not officially discussing La antena yet, and you haven't watched Metropolis in full.

I've seen Metropolis twice before but not for ages so my recollection is insufficient at this stage. Plus it's my first watch of the blu ray.

 

[richardw42]

There are some very obvious similarities between the 2 films.

I made a couple of notes on La Antena, but I watched it back in November so I might have to rent it again. On the face of it perhaps people presume it's going to be a tough watch, but I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

A bit off topic, but I managed to watch a couple of Hitchcock films that I'd never seen before, one that I mentioned earlier, Frenzy, and the other was Shadow Of A Doubt. I Understand Hitchcock himself was very fond of SOAD, but I much preferrred the sleaziness of Frenzy, though SOAD is still a good film.

 

[BenLaw]

If anyone, like me, thought the idea / subject matter of one of our film choices, As if I am not There, was interesting but found the film a bit disappointing, can I recommend Incendies? Different war and, happily, a rather broader look at things but covering some similar themes, in my view much more effectively.

I will make a note of Incendies.

I found the film As if I am not There a bit disappointing as well, primarily because I did not feel the viewer ever got a real understanding of what the characters were thinking at key points during the story. So I read the book, and that explains the thoughts going through the characters minds much better - I wish that I had read the book before watching the film.

I'm reasonably confident you'll like Incendies.

 

[BenLaw]

A bit off topic, but I managed to watch a couple of Hitchcock films that I'd never seen before, one that I mentioned earlier, Frenzy, and the other was Shadow Of A Doubt. I Understand Hitchcock himself was very fond of SOAD, but I much preferrred the sleaziness of Frenzy, though SOAD is still a good film.

I'm not a big Hitchcock aficianado but Rope is much my favourite of his that I've seen. The 'one take' style is brilliant (and only limited by the physical length of film reels).

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

A bit off topic, but I managed to watch a couple of Hitchcock films that I'd never seen before, one that I mentioned earlier, Frenzy, and the other was Shadow Of A Doubt. I Understand Hitchcock himself was very fond of SOAD, but I much preferrred the sleaziness of Frenzy, though SOAD is still a good film.

I'm not a big Hitchcock aficianado but Rope is much my favourite of his that I've seen. The 'one take' style is brilliant (and only limited by the physical length of film reels).

If you ever notice that 'Rope' is on Film4, please give me a heads up.

 

[strapped for cash]

Democratic isn't necessarily the word I'd use, otherwise I agree with the sentiment (subject as usual to your much greater familiarity and expertise on the issue). One never gets the sense that the director is allowing a sense of equality to the subjects (he occasionally confronts them, giving the sense that he was probably never deferential to them) and whilst they were given free reign in their own film making, there is no impression that the final cut of the released film has anything to do with them. Indeed, the film is obviously critical of their historical (and for some of them, present) actions, and some subjects show limited insight and no remorse. There is no sense that the filmmakers have any sympathy with those subjects beyond that which was necessary to develop a rapport to make the film. That's obviously not an uncommon feature where the interviewer has to get close to a subject where there is difficult subject matter.

Thats a a bit rambling but I'd be interested in your informed views when you've seen the film. It's definitely one I'll be buying - but not for a little while as 'dry January' also means buying no films and music for me this year!

Fair enough.

I'd argue that democracy is always a relative term, though I'm more than happy to accept your observations.

I'll post my thoughts once I find the time to watch The Act of Killing.

 

[strapped for cash]

A bit off topic, but I managed to watch a couple of Hitchcock films that I'd never seen before, one that I mentioned earlier, Frenzy, and the other was Shadow Of A Doubt. I Understand Hitchcock himself was very fond of SOAD, but I much preferrred the sleaziness of Frenzy, though SOAD is still a good film.

The BBC screened a few Hitchcock films over the Christmas and New Year period.

I don't know if anyone caught Spellbound, which isn't among Hitchcock's best, but a useful example of dialogue among cinemas -- Buñuel-designed dream sequences bound within a classical narrative structure.

What's interesting to me here (if possibly nobody else) is the contradiction between surrealist and classical narrative objectives.

In its purest incarnations surrealism rejects continuity and defies narrative closure, while classical Hollywood narrative conventions run entirely contrary to such objectives. So the film stands as an example of more formally and narratively experimental methods being absorbed within Hollywood filmmaking contexts (such processes can also work in reverse).

Again, I risk sounding pretentious, but as I've argued throughout this thread, the only persuasive narrative of film history is one of unending dialogue among cinemas and filmmakers, even if certain methods predominate.

EDIT: the score's innovative and expressionistic, too, with Miklos Rosa's use of theremin signifying anxiety and a fragmenting psyche.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Just a reminder to all Film Club members to make sure you've watched La Antena by the end of January.

I watched a Finnish film last night, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, which I'd recorded from January. It certainly wasn't the greatest film ever, but it was quite dark, quite funny, and definitely a little unusual. It wasn't a long film (around 90 minutes), but the time just flew by, so it's a good easy watch if you ever get the chance.

 

[simonlewis]

I haven't read the last few hundred pages so i don't know if it has been mentioned before, just wondering has anybody seen "the machine girl" saw it on amazon prime the other day i liked it so much i've just ordered the blu-ray for £30.

 

[expat_mike]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPbdwgDb78w

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPbdwgDb78w

That's one for your next film choices, Mike? *mosking*

In all seriousness, I've seen a lot weirder, that one seems quite normal for Japan.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I watched Blue Sunshine tonight, and it's either so bad it's good, or just simply awful. I think it was awful.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074226/?ref_=nv_sr_1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Sunshine_(film)

 

[richardw42]

As it's not been mentioned, I guess nobody's bothered watching La Antena. Still got to tomorrow night.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I'm planning on watching it tomorrow Richard.

 

[expat_mike]

As it's not been mentioned, I guess nobody's bothered watching La Antena. Still got to tomorrow night.

I watched it a few weeks ago, but I have yet to watch Metropolis to compare some of the influences. However the weather forecast is wet for a few days, so I could get a chance this weekend.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I've now watched La Antena.

 

[BenLaw]

I watched La Antena today so am in a position to discuss. I also want to watch Metropolis again but am happy to feed that into the discussion as we go. Actually, having watched an hour or so recently I can already say something about the two.