Minimalist films
Apr 11, 2009 10:32:15 GMT
Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2009 10:32:15 GMT
This genre has always fascinated me -- movies where nothing seems to happen, where there is not much dialogue, where the characters are not necessarily appealing -- and yet something really strong comes across and sticks with you. The banality of the non activity of the characters becomes riveting. I have found that most minimalist films stick in my mind far longer than traditional movies.
There is sort of a fence-sitting "big budget" version of minimalist films -- movies like Frozen River or The Visitor. (Interesting that both of those movies netted a best actor nomination for the main character!) But while those movies take a close look at the little details of life, they also have a "major event" to garner commercial interest.
I'm talking about a whole different level, though. Today I went to see Wendy and Lucy. It's about a down-and-out young woman driving to Alaska with her dog. Her car breaks down in some town in Oregon. Her dog disappears. The whole movie is about her sleeping in her car, having trouble with the police, trying to get her car fixed, going to the dog pound... There are random acts of kindness (the Walgreen's security agent lets her use his cell phone) and also random acts of pettiness (the junior manager of the superette demands that the police be called when she tries to steal a can of dog food). "If you can't afford dog food, you shouldn't have a dog!" The movie runs its 80 minutes (even the length is minimalist), and there are some tears but also some hope. Maybe she will make it to Alaska after all.
The director Kelly Reichardt made another such movie called Old Joy, about two erstwhile friends who drive to some hot springs (that's the full plot). It was just as gripping.
Does anybody else appreciate this sort of film?
There is sort of a fence-sitting "big budget" version of minimalist films -- movies like Frozen River or The Visitor. (Interesting that both of those movies netted a best actor nomination for the main character!) But while those movies take a close look at the little details of life, they also have a "major event" to garner commercial interest.
I'm talking about a whole different level, though. Today I went to see Wendy and Lucy. It's about a down-and-out young woman driving to Alaska with her dog. Her car breaks down in some town in Oregon. Her dog disappears. The whole movie is about her sleeping in her car, having trouble with the police, trying to get her car fixed, going to the dog pound... There are random acts of kindness (the Walgreen's security agent lets her use his cell phone) and also random acts of pettiness (the junior manager of the superette demands that the police be called when she tries to steal a can of dog food). "If you can't afford dog food, you shouldn't have a dog!" The movie runs its 80 minutes (even the length is minimalist), and there are some tears but also some hope. Maybe she will make it to Alaska after all.
The director Kelly Reichardt made another such movie called Old Joy, about two erstwhile friends who drive to some hot springs (that's the full plot). It was just as gripping.
Does anybody else appreciate this sort of film?