Film Persona

  Anthony Asquith's "The Browning Version" I was very caught off guard by Anthony Asquith's 1951 British film " The Browning Version ." Going into it, I wasn't sure what to expect. Regardless, what I received was something far more emotionally complex than anticipated.  The film centers on Andrew Crocker-Harris, an embittered, middle-aged schoolmaster. He is resigning from his post due to his poor health, his wife is cheating on him, and the person she's cheating on him with is the one replacing him at his post. This sets off a series of emotional and existential reflections on whether his hardnose and authoritarian teaching methods made any difference with the students throughout his teaching career. However, one grateful student forces Crocker-Harris into an emotional reckoning. The film forces reflection on one's life and the difference we make in the lives of those around us. Perhaps you hold too tightly to your ideals and perhaps you've ...

  Emilio Fernandez's "Victims of Sin" I wouldn't exactly say that Emilio Fernandez's 1951 Mexican drama " Victims of Sin " knocked my socks off. I also wouldn't say that it was completely unengaging. Rather, somewhere in the middle. There were many aspects of the film I found interesting. I think Fernandez is a very engaging visual storyteller and his story is full of moral and emotional rummaging that provides a level of interest enough to keep me engaged with the picture. It centers on a Cuban dancer who decides to rescue a baby from being thrown in the trash, raise it, and ultimately pay the price for her heart of gold. I think the film was something of note and worth a watch at the very least.

  Alf Sjoberg's "Miss Julie" A film that won the Grand Prix at the 1951 Cannes Film Festival, Alf Sjoberg's " Miss Julie " is more than just a film about a forbidden romance. It's constant shifts in emotion and tone make for something that is unsettling or destructive within the confines of its themes. Based on the 1888 play of the same name by August Strindberg, " Miss Julie " is an intentionally unruly piece of work that froths with unrest and debauchery.  " Miss Julie " centers on Miss Julie, the daughter of a Count Carl, as she forgoes the family's Midsummer's Eve celebration to "honour" the servants' ball with her presence. She becomes attracted to one of the servants, Jean, whom confesses that he was attracted to her as a boy. The two contemplate escaping the estate, however their drunken discussions ultimately lead to various forms of power plays between the two.  I think the main thing to point out about ...

  Vincente Minnelli's "The Bad and the Beautiful" After the wild success of his 1951 musical " An American in Paris ," Vincente Minnelli opted for a film about the Hollywood industry itself. 1952's " The Bad and the Beautiful " and its central storyline is pulled right from real life inspirations of figures in Hollywood. Minnelli, when asked why he would film a movie criticizing Hollywood, replied that he felt the characters were flawed and human, which made the concept of the film far more fascinating.  The film centers on three figures in the industry: a writer, a director, and an actress. Each tell their own individual perspective on their relationship to Jonathan Shields, an exacting movie producer who soiled each relationship by propping them up and then abandoning them for bigger and better prospects. Through their recollection of their experiences with Shields, we piece together the life of a man attempting to get to the top and burn every r...

  Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger's "The Tales of Hoffmann" With the finale of their 1947 film " Black Narcissus " and the ballet sequences of 1948's " The Red Shoes ," it was becoming evident that Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger were getting closer to achieving their goal of a 'composed film.' 'Composed image,' a term coined by by Powell, meaning a marriage between image and operatic music. With their 1951 film " The Tales of Hoffmann ," they were successful in their execution of their idealized 'composed image' through a retelling of the 1881 opera " The Tales of Hoffmann ."  The entirety of " The Tales of Hoffmann " is done completely without dialogue. There is only singing. It recounts the tales of Hoffmann, a man who fell in love with an automaton in France, had his reflection stolen by a courtesan for a magician in Venice, and falls in love with a dying soprano singer in Gree...

  Akira Kurosawa's "The Idiot" Kurosawa had grand visions when he adapted Fyodor Dostoevsky's 1869 novel " The Idiot ." Kurosawa had originally crafted a 265 minute version of the film, only for the studio to demand it be cut down. This original version now no longer exists and the stripped-down 166 minute version, is all that remains.  " The Idiot " tells the story of a man suffering from epileptic dementia, and is often referred to as 'an idiot' because of it. However, the man, Kameda, is good natured and endlessly selfless to everyone around him. The film hinges upon an intricate web of relationships that get tangled between Kameda and various romantic interests and their respective suitors. Everyone is drawn to Kameda due to his goodness.  The film intrigued me in various sections. I did feel as though the film had quite a bit of weight with its runtime. It felt like it dragged in several places. But, there are two main sequences that h...