Film Persona

  Carol Reed's "The Third Man" I've got to say that when I first watched Carol Reed's 1949 film " The Third Man " several years ago, I was completely floored by it. I had even considered it as one of the greats of classic cinema. I watched it for a second time yesterday and, to be completely honest, the emotional engagement I felt from the first viewing experience had completely dissipated. That's not to say that the film isn't a great film and still a considerable classic of the noir genre and of classic British cinema. But, one of the major engagements of the film is the feeling of confusion and disorientation the protagonist feels and our equally confused and disoriented viewing experience as we follow along. However, once you know the full scope about Harry Lime and what he's up to, the mystery and disorientation dissolves and you're left to view the film as an objective observer who knows all the facts. You become disengaged from the...

  Laurence Olivier's "Hamlet" After the rousing success of his first Shakespearian adaptation, 1944's " Henry V ," Laurence Olivier garnished even greater success with his 1948 adaption of the iconic " Hamlet ." Although his directorial debut with " Henry V " was done fully with technicolor, " Hamlet " was a return to black and white cinematography. Perhaps this allowed Olivier far more freedom with his visual imagery, as he takes very gothic inspirations from German Expressionism and the current American film noir movement. The result was a rapturous welcoming by audiences and the film community, as " Hamlet " became the greatest success of Olivier's directorial career.

  Fei Mu's "Spring in a Small Town" In 2005, Fei Mu's 1948 film " Spring in a Small Town " was voted the Best Chinese film ever made by the Hong Kong Film Awards. The film is highly regarded for its minimalist style and themes centering on post-war trauma. During the film's release, China was still in a state of dilapidation. The country had been torn apart by war and its residents were still psychologically recovering from the horror and trauma. The film acted as a quiet meditation on this trauma and in a not so roundabout way, reconciled with the Chinese Civil War that was taking place at that time. The film follows Yumen, a married woman living in a ruined family compound owned by her husband, Liyan. The estate is falling apart and its ruins represents the ruins of the Chinese state after the end of the war. Yumen is depressed and unhappy in her loveless marriage and Liyan is unpleasant towards his wife due to his worsening illness. When a friend of L...

  Kenji Mizoguchi's "Women of the Night" It seem as though " Women of the Night " is regarded as one of Kenji Mizoguchi's lesser acclaimed films in his filmography. I have not made my way through the film after this one, but I certainly felt as though " Women of the Night " stands as his rawest and most straightforward films that has come out up until this point. Mizoguchi was impressed by the Italian neo-realist movement that was circulating in global cinema and " Women of the Night " was his best attempt at replicating that.  The film centers on three women, two of them sisters, who descend into prostitution, all for various and individual reasons. It is a film that came out after the war and centers on the Japanese post-war landscape. Mizoguchi was known for his themes involving destitute women and their struggles within a society that oppresses and abandons them.  Perhaps this is just a minor note, but I felt as though Mizoguchi is co...

  Carol Reed's "The Fallen Idol" Right after his grand success with 1947's " Odd Man Out ," British director Carol Reed continued his late 1940s streak of great films with 1948's " The Fallen Idol ." Written by Graham Greene, based on his own short story " The Basement Room " found in his 1947 collection " Nineteen Stories ," the film centers on a child as he is confronted with the moral ambiguity surrounding the man he idolizes.  The protagonist of the film, Philippe, is a small boy and the young song of the ambassador of a French-speaking European country. He lives parentless at the embassy with his butler and maid (both married to each other). He idolizes the butler, Baines, who tells him extravagant tall tales of his time in Africa and frequently plays with the boy. Baines' kindness is juxtaposed with Mrs. Baines, who is much harsher towards the boy. One day, the boy discovers that Baines is having a secret affair wi...

  Yasujiro Ozu's "A Hen in the Wind" What struck me most about Yasujiro Ozu's 1948 film " A Hen in the Wind " was how much the structure and themes of the film seemed emblematic of a Kenji Mizoguchi film. Themes revolving around women and their precarious predicaments in Japanese social structures. I've read in some places that many even consider this Ozu's darkest film. The film centers on a mother in post-war Japan as she awaits the return of her husband from war. The only problem is that, once he returns, she must confess to him that she was forced to prostitute herself to get money for their sick child. Upon hearing this news, the husband goes into a fit of rage and despair, ultimately throwing his wife down the stairs. The two reconcile afterwards, but it is clear that the shame and pain of their mistakes remain.  I feel as though " A Hen in the Wind " is an apt title for the film, as it revolves primarily around the struggle of women ...

  Keisuke Kinoshita's "The Portrait" I'm finding the films of Keisuke Kinoshita to be rather interesting. I've only seen the 3 he has done from 1946 to 1948, most recently with 1948's " The Portrait ." His works are always solid and it often strikes me how he is not ever mentioned with post-war Japanese cinema along with contemporaries like Akira Kurosawa, Kenji Mizoguchi, and Yasujiro Ozu. Perhaps this is not the case in Japan, but I have scoured the internet here in the U.S. for some Kinoshito content, but have come up short more often than not. As far as my most recent watch, 1948's " The Portrait ," I found it to be interesting and engaging. It centers on the mistress of a man who is attempting to take advantage of a family living in a house he owns. As the realtor moves in to try and get the family to move out so he can sell it, the mistress begins to be won over by the kindness of the family and begins to look at herself and her l...