The Fall is a difficult movie to assess; I watched it yesterday and thought it a masterpiece. However, the main reason why I thought that is the scenes in which various people tell what they think about the Vietnam war. The director shows both people who are supporting it and against it. And the striking thing is how extraordinarily similar what they are saying are to the way people talk about the Iraq war. So I think it's masterpiece for today because it's highly relevant.
The movie itself works to prove the phrase "history repeats itself". Especially, after watching an elderly lady talk passionately about why the war is only about profits, I couldn't hold my tears back. Because at that moment, I understood that we failed those people who fought against the same things 40 years back.
However, I also can see why somebody might think this film is a pretentious piece of stick job. As some scenes in between feels very much like filler material, thus the bloated running time. The Italian lady takes much of the flak; but at least she is very pretty to look at. But pay attention to one sequence where Whitehead is talking about Americans and New York, all the while the very sexy Italian lady is strutting seductively on screen. I think it achieves the director's aim of differentiating Word and Image.
Also the Colombia University scenes are very revelatory and you just can't look at all that bright young people, fighting - albeit aimlessly - for something they believe in, on screen and don't feel a pang of guilt and shame today.
The movie itself works to prove the phrase "history repeats itself". Especially, after watching an elderly lady talk passionately about why the war is only about profits, I couldn't hold my tears back. Because at that moment, I understood that we failed those people who fought against the same things 40 years back.
However, I also can see why somebody might think this film is a pretentious piece of stick job. As some scenes in between feels very much like filler material, thus the bloated running time. The Italian lady takes much of the flak; but at least she is very pretty to look at. But pay attention to one sequence where Whitehead is talking about Americans and New York, all the while the very sexy Italian lady is strutting seductively on screen. I think it achieves the director's aim of differentiating Word and Image.
Also the Colombia University scenes are very revelatory and you just can't look at all that bright young people, fighting - albeit aimlessly - for something they believe in, on screen and don't feel a pang of guilt and shame today.