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A torinói ló (2011)
A Journey of Despair
The moment I cast my eyes on the horse toiling through the storm, and my ears embraced the haunting score, I knew that something significant awaited me. I was completely spellbound by the beauty and ferocity of the images on the screen, and I felt myself floating side by side with the rhythmical motions of the camera. This scene alone would have been a profound experience, but what followed made the movie more than profound; a revelation.
Oddly I had never seen a film by Bela Tarr before The Turin Horse, as I have enjoyed films by Tarkovsky, Trier, Malick, Dreyer and many more. I knew his name, but had evidently missed out on one of the few true auteurs alive today. However, this made the two and a half hours even more compelling. Once again, I was reminded that the less information you have of a movie you are going to see, the greater the experience will become.
And what an experience it was! When the horse refuses to eat, and you realize that the relentless storm engulfing the house will never end, your heart starts to race, as you mentally prepare yourself for a journey towards a desperate end. You slowly glide, circle, zoom, stop and wonder, hand in hand with a cinematographer, who conjures up an endless series of deeply poetic black and white images, transcending space and time. Together with the father and daughter, you sit in silence and wait. And as the flames slowly die out, you drift into darkness; the final destination.
Medea (1988)
An organic catharsis
Never before have I seen a movie, in which the link between human fate and nature, is so profoundly explored. From start to end, this compact and harrowing tragedy is enveloped in water, fog, wind and dirt. Every utterance and emotion of the characters are tied to a series of compelling naturalistic shots, conjured up by Trier's genius. The fluidity, precision, imagination and nerve of the images, makes the story resonate on a spiritual level. To me such beauty is beyond rational comprehension. I can just say that my heart raced throughout, and several scenes brought me to the brink of tears. Especially when the poisoned horse tears free and feverishly runs to its demise, in turn sealing Glauce's doom.
Medea will remain in my heart for the rest of my life. This truly is immortal art.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Extraordinary Vision
In Sleepy Hollow, Tim Burton has crafted a vision of Gothic gloom unsurpassed in modern films. All the elements of film-making are brilliantly united. The music is eerie and powerful, the sets are literally out of this world(what an amazing imagination this man must have), the casting is perfect. I could go on and on. I love the way Burton lets loose and dives into the gory tale with great passion and enthusiasm. Furthermore, it is wonderful to see violence being used in a honest and cynical manner. I'm referring to the scene in which the whole family is slaughtered... (similar style as Pans Labyrinth) Not that I condone violence, but used truthfully it is a very potent tool. 9 out of 10 from a huge fan!
La chute de la maison Usher (1928)
A Nightmare of Beauty
My expectations were soaring as I pressed play on my DVD-player, and when Epstein's vision came to life I knew this would become one of my favorite movies. But why? Well first of all it opened up the door to a phantasmagorial universe of beauty and gloom, which I have only witnessed in one more movie; namely Vampyr by Carl Th. Dreyer. It is difficult to explain, but the beauty of horror has a dimension which transcends the beauty of the normal world. A beauty trapped inside a nightmare, so to speak. Lady Madeline is the embodiment of this idea, being trapped inside a crypt, buried alive! I will keep on searching for more of these black diamonds, but I fear that I have already found the most precious ones...
Vampyr (1932)
The Masterpiece I had always been looking for...
Where to begin. I have always been drawn to the shadows of life so to speak. The dark side of human nature is everywhere around us and often much more interesting to explore than the bright one. Therefore I have seen many horror movies and read my share of Poe and King. I had the feeling before Vampyr entered my DVD player, that this movie might become the essential piece in my Gothic puzzle. It did! Vampyr offered the atmosphere I had always been looking for but never knew existed. Its incoherent storyline, its dreamlike landscapes, its unexplainable moments. Vampyr embodies what all new Hollywood horror movies lacks, which is the "hinted" horror. Dreyer has created a masterpiece which has no equal. Throw away all expectations of genre. Discard your normal analytical apparatus and let yourself float together with Mr.Gray through an unforgettable dream.