I liked 'La Vallée' because it made me ask fundamental questions about my own journey. The central character Viviane (Bulle Ogier) begins with one search and ends with another. The other characters Olivier, Gaetan, Monique, and Hermine each have their own journeys that weave stories of personal transformation around each other in pursuit of spiritual ideals. The open nature of the ending alludes to every person's image of the unknown.
I had the soundtrack album (Obscured By Clouds) in the early 70's and was intrigued by the cover. Now, many years later, I've visited and experienced a little of Polynesian culture for myself, and find that the essential questions about how to reconcile western and indigenous culture are still just as powerful as those played out in the movie. I see the scene just before the final ascent to 'the valley' as the core dialog, namely, can we step inside the world of ancestors and taboos, or are we merely tourists on our own journeys? Can we return with knowledge to paradise, or must we, as Oliver says, 'take a second bite of the apple'to move forward? Can we reinvent ourselves, or are we bound in our world views by jealousy, phobia, hormones, and social convention? I think Schroeder is expressing this dialog within himself against the backdrop of the Mapuga.
Barbet Schroeder's second feature film shares some of the same shortcomings with his first film 'More'. The editing is at times abrupt, and some scenes seem to evaporate into dead-ends with no plot development. Nevertheless, I admire his willingness to make this film in New Guinea. It must have been very progressive for its time.
I had the soundtrack album (Obscured By Clouds) in the early 70's and was intrigued by the cover. Now, many years later, I've visited and experienced a little of Polynesian culture for myself, and find that the essential questions about how to reconcile western and indigenous culture are still just as powerful as those played out in the movie. I see the scene just before the final ascent to 'the valley' as the core dialog, namely, can we step inside the world of ancestors and taboos, or are we merely tourists on our own journeys? Can we return with knowledge to paradise, or must we, as Oliver says, 'take a second bite of the apple'to move forward? Can we reinvent ourselves, or are we bound in our world views by jealousy, phobia, hormones, and social convention? I think Schroeder is expressing this dialog within himself against the backdrop of the Mapuga.
Barbet Schroeder's second feature film shares some of the same shortcomings with his first film 'More'. The editing is at times abrupt, and some scenes seem to evaporate into dead-ends with no plot development. Nevertheless, I admire his willingness to make this film in New Guinea. It must have been very progressive for its time.