TokeZa's inane ramblings about film
 

I want to write more about the films i watch, instead of just give ratings. I am not that good at English so hopefully you will bear with me.

This will be a thread mostly dedicated to (obscure) arthouse movies and foreign film.

I hope you will enjoy :cool:

Re: TokeZa's inane ramblings about film
 

Looking forward to this!

And don't worry about your language skills. Apparently my rudimentary grasp of English is enough to voice my opinions in threads like Movie Tab II and such, so you should be okay, too.

Looking forward to this thread.. Thanks!

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Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992) by David Lynch

I was pretty happy to see the two first seasons of Twin Peaks which i rated + and wrote about in rate the last movie thread, but Fire Walk with Me seems mostly relevant for hardcore fans. I missed the central presence of Dale Cooper from the first two season, who in my opinion held the series together with a great performance by Kyle MacLachlan. Another thing i missed was the satire and humor from the tv-series which added nicely to a meta perspective on tv-series in general and how you perceive them. All that said it still adds something to the universe of Twin Peaks and has a nice balance between the real and the surreal. Still its probably the worst i have seen from the hands of Lynch (I have not seen Dune, which is probably worse). I must say i am looking forward to seeing The Return.

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The Scarlet Empress (1934) by Josef von Sternberg

The only film i have seen by Josef von Sternberg so far is Shanghai Express (1932), which i rate . As a former history student who had dwelled into modern Eastern European history i was a bit disappointed with this supposedly period drama. From what i read, Josef von Sternberg, was obsessed with Marlene Dietrich and that makes sense after seeing this film. The interesting thing about this film is more style (and costumes) than substance, which is primarily the reason for my rating. Its not a film i as such plan on revisiting.

Re: TokeZa's inane ramblings about film
 

I remember not loving Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me. I thought it explained things attentive viewers got out of the series alone. On the other hand, it also introduced some additional material, whose importance I grasped after watching The Return. This is really crazy, but I think Lynch had it all planned from the very beginning. Either this, or he had to rewatch/revise the whole thing a countless number of times before writing The Return. Too many things just make sense (even if they make sense by not making sense).

The Scarlet Empress has one of the lushest cinematographies ever. The scenography adds lots to it. I wouldn't be surprised if Eisenstein (or maybe Tisse) was inspired by its visuals while making Ivan the Terrible. Dietrich is totally an empress there. She's a goddess. I never saw her fetishised like this (even in other von Sternberg films albeit I still have some yet to see). Von Sternberg's films are always outstanding visually. The Last Command is my favourite of his.

I dont have my son next weekend so i plan on getting into The Return. I dont think i will be disappointed.

Ivan the Terrible also came to my mind after seeing this and i would not be surprised if there was a connection between those films. Though I think Ivan the Terrible is a lot more interesting and more succes full as a film.

I already have The Last Command on my to watch list and will get to it eventually.

Wait, you can't watch movies when you have a child? I'll never have kids! :p

Haha yesterday we saw Where is the Friends Home? and we agreed to see My Neighbor Totoro next time.

The indoctrination has already begun and his favorite band is Kraftwerk :D

Re: TokeZa's inane ramblings about film
 

How old is he? Maybe you should already start getting him into Bergman and Tarkovsky?

Re: TokeZa's inane ramblings about film
 

He is 10, still to early for Bergman and Tarkovsky.

But i am increasingly putting him on pressure for watching stuff like Akira.

Re: TokeZa's inane ramblings about film
 

Wowzers, Akira isn't a children's film exactly either. Make sure he doesn't try to find the film on torrents afterwards. When I tried a couple of years ago, I got a lot of Asa Akira porn in the results. As a matter of fact I never regretted this, but you know, the kid is 10. When I was ten... Okay, that's enough. Let's get back to topic.

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The Goddess (1934) by Yonggang Wu

An interesting silent film by Yonggang Wu, with Ruan Lingyu as the unnamed prostitute and loving mother. This was my first film with Ruan Lingyu who is the center of attention in Stanley Kwans epic biopic Centre Stage from 1992. The film revolves around themes of social injustice and stigma of the people living on the fringes of society in 30's China. Its an excellent depiction of #modernity and the heart wrenching performance by Ruan Lingyu makes it a must watch for cinephiles and social workers alike.

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Husbands and Wives (1992) by Wood Allen

So far i have seen ten Woody Allen and while he might be a creep irl, his idiosyncratic movies are quite interesting and reminiscent of one of my favorite directors Ingmar Bergman. So far Hannah and Her Sisters have been my favorite, but i think Husbands and Wives are up their among his best work. Thematically it explores dysfunctional relations among the intellectual elite with sexual tension as a focal point. The film cuts between interview and linear narrative, which gives you intriguing insights into the characters mental being. As always there is a neurotic existential anxiety at play which feeds the dysfunctional couples. One of the major laughs was when a side character made an opinion, criticizing the movie itself and Woody Allens perspective on life. This meta perspective added a lot to the viewing experience.

Re: TokeZa's inane ramblings about film
 

I'm watching "Interiors" by Woody Allen pretty soon, have you seen it yet? If so, is it any good?
"Husbands and Wives" seems like a pretty enjoyable film from what you said, you got me intrigued.

I havent seen it, but from the summary, it seems like a Woody Allen classic in terms of themes and narrative. Let me know what you think of it.

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Stalker (1979) by Andrei Tarkovsky

It has been quite some years (maybe 4 or more), since i last saw Stalker by Tarkovsky. It is a very visceral and meditative experience going into a film that mostly works as reflexive lyrical and visual poem. It is a film who constantly ask question without certain answers, which in that regard makes you (me) reflect on the very existence of man. There is a certain modus of alienation and estrangement trough out the film which me in think of the marxist existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre and his work Being and Nothingness. In relation to that it also made me reflect upon Heideggers Sein und zeit, especially the terms being-towards-death and being-in-the-world. I dont see Stalker as much as a sci-fi as a reflection on the existential dispositives of man. A very metaphysical film and a masterpiece as such.

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The Horse Thief (1986) by Zhuangzhuang Tian

A very poetic film, with nearly no dialogue focusing on nomads in Tibet. This is one of the more obscure foreign films that reminds you of Tarkovsky. As with Tarkovsky its a very visceral experience and the film should primarily be seen for its image language. Recommended if you want to dive in to an obscure Chinese arthouse film.

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Franz Kafka - The Trial (1925)

In a small detour from the film reviews i recently reread the Trial by Franz Kafka. The subject matter of the book is foreshadowing the totalitarian regimes in Eastern Europe and is a great depiction of bureaucratization processes. There are many great scenes in the book, but i guess my personal favorite is Josef K. meeting with the painter and the final scene. A dystopian story that pays homage to Crime and Punishment and seems closely related to 1984 by George Orwell.

I also think Fire Walk With Me is the worst Lynch, although I haven't seen Dune either.

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Hatari! (1962) by Howard Hawks

I grew up with a father who was an avid butterfly collector and entomologist, focusing on the moth family tortricidae. We traveled all over Europe en rebuild van where you could sleep in the back, but we also made several travels to Africa and even Siberia to collect nightflying moths (on a small sidenote i once found a new species in southern Turkey, which my father named after me: Clavigestus Tokei). Hatari reminded me a lot of those trips to Africa, especially one in Cameroon, where we stayed at a Belgian big game hunters place. Hatari is reminiscent of Only Angels Have Wings (1939), albeit not as magical and coherent, but still it worked really well with some nice comedic relief once in a while. Its still a classic case of the big white man getting interrupted by the unknowing female. After all i guess Hawks might be my favorite American director.

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Ruggles of Red Gap (1935) by Leo McCarey

I have only seen one other McCarey film, Make Way For Tomorrow from 1937, which is an exquisite tale of elderly love in relation to modernity and the new family values. Ruggles of Red Gap is an interesting film the uses archetypical stereotypes of Anglo-American characters as a driving point for the trajectory. The whole film is a love letter to the American dream and egalitarianism as a driving force in human relations. The film is subjugated to inherent American values, and as such underpins the division between the Old and the New World. As a democratic socialist and marxist you got to love the democratic and egalitarian viewpoints of the film.

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Nanook of the North (1922) by Robert J. Flaherty

This film is primarily for cinephiles interested in etnographic documentaries. I have a huge love for Harvard Etnographic Lab and their recent documentaries, especially Leviathan by Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Verena Paravel. Nanook is the forefather of such kind of documentaries even if Flaherty admitted that documentary as such was staged and Nanook castet for the role. The film is by no means a technical masterpiece but an interesting piece of film history.

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Ready Player One (2018) by Steven Spielberg


Its been many years, since i last saw a Steven Spielberg film as i have mainly been focusing on more obscure arthouse films, than the latest Blockbuster. However i was pleasantly surprised by Ready Player One and as far as i remember its one of the best Spielbergs that i have seen. Ready Player One is an excellent reflection on virtual media and computer games impact on social life. The focal point being escape from reality into fantasy with an underlying social critique. There are loads of pop culture and film references which a keen observer can enjoy. From the last years; Mad Max: Fury Road and Ready Player One have been my best Blockbuster experiences.


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Ana-ta-Han is on YouTube in full -- I gave it a 10/10...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBPJSWZfZVg&t=1426s



P.S. - Jim Morrison's favorite movie.

That sounds cool. Ill have to look into that one :)

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Western (2017) by Valeska Grisebach

My first film from Grisebach, which was surprisingly eloquently filmed. I could not help to see the film on feminist terms, as a bared down description of male aggression in the light of recent right wing popular movements in Eastern Europe. I felt both alienated and intrigued by the insights and reflections the film gave. As such it relates a lot to the recent Elle (2016) by Verhoeven which i also view in a feministic discourse. Western seems a lot more sincere and realist (without all the sleaze), than Elle.

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The Apartment (1960) by Billy Wilder

I am not accustomed to watching films by Wilder and even if he seems to be hailed on this forum as one of the great directors, i have actually only liked Sunset Blvd. (1950) of the 4 films i have seen by him so far. The Apartment was a good film but in my opinion it lacked the subtleties of what i consider a great film, albeit it was rich and complex in its description of romantic efforts in the highpoint of American modernity. I am not sure that genuine Hollywood films will ever be of my liking, but this one was for sure well done and well made, but the plot and payoff was foreseeable and it lacked critical reflexion and nuances. As entertainment it might be good for some audiences.

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The Year of Living Dangerously (1982) by Peter Weir

Quite interesting thriller by Peter Weir with som tropes from eighties b-movies. In a postcolonial and historical perspective the revolving conflicts in Indonesia, in which the story unfolds, are quite interesting. The mass murder of communists and chinese which evolves from this conflict is greatly depicted by Joshua Oppenheimer in The Act of Killing af The Look of Silence. Even though the narrative is quite uneven and the climax of the story does not pay off, the film is quite intense and exciting. Recommended if your into 80's b-movie flicks and should probaby be watched with a beer on the side.


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I too enjoy obscure, art house and foreign films. We have a dedicated foreign movie television channel in my country. Eric Rohmer also did the four season films which I found captivating.

A good watch from Oz with an almost juvenile Mel Gibson leading the way.

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Love Streams (1984) by John Cassavetes

I got off from a bad start with Cassavetes, not really enjoying his movies, though i think it was more about my approach than the movies. Lately i picked up The Killing of a Chinese Bookie from 1976 and it was an excellent thriller with nuanced characters, which i rated +.

Yesterday, in our weekly movie club, we saw Love Streams and while the running time may be a little to long it was an excellent watch- It might be the best i have seen from him, though i am pondering to watch Opening Night soon.

The duality of a loving, albeit manic sister, and a sex crazed, self-absorbed, brother brought to light an excellent reflection on love in a metaphysical level. The theme of mental illness is a recurrent theme in Cassavetes film, which in this film was lovingly portrayed, and as a recovered manic-depressiv i can certainly relate on a personal level, to both the enjoyment and despair of madness. Starlight performance by both main actors.

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Oh, that sounds great, where are you from?

Re: TokeZa's inane ramblings about film
 

I too watched Love Streams quite recently, and I followed it by Opening Night. They're both great, with Love Streams being my favourite Cassavetes so far. He is so masterful, while managing to remain quite simplistic. His camera becomes more and more claustrophobic, just as his characters become more and more manic. Not to mention, the music appropriately adding to the strength of the punch to the gut. I'm still mad I have yet to find an Opening Night's official soundtrack.

I loved everything he has put out so far, and I even have Faces, along with The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, ready to be watched this week.

Re: TokeZa's inane ramblings about film
 

It's funny that for you Killing of a Chinese Bookie was your kind of breakthrough for enjoying Cassavetes, because that was the first film I saw of his and I found it totally off-putting. The first one that I really liked was A Woman Under the Influence and from there I started to appreciate his movies. Woman Under the Influence and Love Streams are my favorites now and every couple of years I rewatch most of his movies. But I think you are right that you probably have to be in a certain mood/mindset when you watch them

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Manifesto (2017) by Julian Rosefeldt

Yesterday i went to Kunsthal Charlottenborg, with a friend, to see Manifesto from 2017, as an art installation, though it has also been screened as a feature film in some cinemas. Its a highly pretentious film, reflecting on different forms of art manifestos. The setup creates a polyphonic attitude towards art and is increasingly self-reflexive. The scenes are engaging, but the subject matter of the film, may deter many non-artsy types from seeing it.

Highly recommended if you are into the situationist international

Re: TokeZa's inane ramblings about film
 

I think I've seen Manifesto before, or most of it at least (i don't think I finished it). It was interesting for what it was, but I was not in the mood for it at that time.

Yeah, you definitely have to be in the mood for that kind of film, though i think as an artist or art lover, it could be well appreciated.

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Princess Mononoke (1997) by Hayao Miyazaki

Its been a lot of years since i last saw Princess Mononoke by Miyazaki, but earlier today my son and I, had a comfy Sunday in the universe of Miyazaki. As an agnostic living in the era of the anthropocene the subject matter of Princess Mononoke seems highly relevant. The duality between and in between the industrialized human and nature, here revoked as forest spirits, is a finely tuned reflexion on Miyazaki's holistic world view.

My son was flabbergasted by several scenes and managed to stay concentrated for the more than 2 hour runtime, which i regard as rather impressive, since he is mostly into Harry Potter and Monty Python at the moment.

I still regard My Neighbor Totoro as Miyazaki's best film, but Princess Mononoke is certainly up there, as one of the best animated films of all time.

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D'Est (1993) by Chantal Akerman

After re-reading an Interview with Chantal Akerman in the Danish film critic magazine Krystalbilleder, i saw the non-narrative documentary D'Est aka From the East by Chantal Akerman.

I have written a lot about the democratic opposition in Poland during the 70's until the formation of Solidanosc and have a keen interest in Eastern European history during the cold war. On a personal level i have also travelled a lot in those countries including a bike ride to and through Poland and am currently planning a 1-month visit to Kiev next year.

D'Est was especially interesting fore me, since it depicted Akermans journey from Berlin to Moscow, just after the collapse of the Soviet Union, reminding me of the Croatian author and intellectual Miroslav Krleza's impressionistic essays in Journey to Russia from 1927, which described the recent developments after the Russian Revolution and Lenins NEP politics.

Akermans intuitive style of documentary filmmaking combined with the influences of structuralist filmmaking and the films of Michael Snow, makes for a highly impressive collection of field recordings, which reminded me of Vertov's The Man With a Movie Camera from 1927. I cant help to think that Akerman must have influenced one of my favorite American documentarists, namely James Benning.

Only for cinephiles with in an interest in Structuralist Cinema.

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Call Me by Your Name (2017) by Luca Guadagnino

Yesterday, I went to our local cinematheque (Cinemateket), here in Copenhagen, with a good friend, to see the recent Call Me by Your Name by Guadagnino. As a feminist and postmarxist i applaud the recent wave of queer and homoerotic movies, showing multitudes of human behaviour and feelings, not previously showcased for mainstream audiences. Call Me by Your Name arrives in the slipstream of movies such as Moonlight, Blue is the Warmest Color and Stranger by the Lake, showcasing erotic sensibilities of a young Italian during the formative years of adolescens. Call Me by Your Name is reminiscent of the tropes of Eric Rohmers film, and is greatly indebted to the language of French filmmaking, and as a film depicting the troubles of love through adolescens, its certainly a succes.

In a recent article in the film critic magazine Balthazar, an article, argued that the best film were both good and bad and that it was flaws or the things that were not quite on point that made an excellent film. In that sense Call Me by Your Name is nearly to perfect with the perfect family and too indie-sweet, with the soundtrack of Sigur Ros and Sufjan Stevens playing at the right moment. Still it's in my opinion, highly recommendable.

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Nightfall (2012) by James Benning

In a recent discussion on svingninger.dk, we discussed Bennings films and whether they should be seen at home or in the cinema. While most would only want to see James Bennings film in cinema, I thoroughly enjoy seeing his films in the home cinema, but it requires a certain modus of watching, and years ago we would take downers while watching his contemplative cinema.

The structuralist cinema of Benning earns homage to 70's avantgarde cinema with the like of Chantal Akerman, Michael Snow and Hollis Frampton. As a starting point i would recommend Landscape Suicide, while i think his best films are 13 Lakes, Ten Skies and RR.

I have a small movie club dedicated to films such as Bennings, with an old friend, who also really like ambient music. We have discussed the films and the contemplative way of seeing these kinds of films as an cathartic experience, maybe similar to those experiences people have, when they experience yoga or mindfulness.

Nighfall works best as an art installation, but can in my opinion be viewed at home for meditative reasons.

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First Reformed (2018) by Paul Schrader

This film had been hyped on the Danish forum svingninger.dk, so it was with a high anticipation and expectations i went to see it at the Danish film festival CPH Pix with a good friend. The expectations were definitely met and i regard it as the best American film from 2018. First reformed is reminiscent of Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver and revolves around a spiritual crisis and dives into the increasingly intrusive problems of climate change, albeit inhabited in a discourse of mental health problems and terrorism.

Set aside from the last scene (which does not really make any sense) First Reformed follows the tropes of Taxi Driver and seems like a relevant up to date version of that film, as well as a reflection on alienation in face of the current political problems.

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The Swamp (2001) by Lucrecia Martel

After seeing Zama from 2017 i have decided to dive into Martel's filmography starting with the Swamp from 2001. Zama was not an easy watch, but certainly an imposing reflection on colonialism and the heritage from Aguirre: The Wrath of God. In comparison The Swamp is also a provocation to the ordinary viewer. The unstructured narrative with uneven or even imposing soundscapes and the abruptness of the characters actions, makes it a hard but intriguing watch. The film encompasses a dysfunctional family in a heat wave, with a multitude of being situations and relational trouble.

The swamps reminds me of an oppositional modus of Jeanne Dielman, and both films are in my opinion provocations, albeit Jeanne Dielman a more disciplined and successful one. On a theoretical level it reminded me of Gregory Bateson and his cybernetics in the ecology of the mind.

For viewers with an arthouse inclination

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Mirai (2018) by Mamoru Hosoda

Today i went to the local Cinematheque here in Copenhagen with my son to see the latest film by Mamoru Hosoda. Hosoda is a director i have heard of, but i have never seen any of his films, so i was quite excited to see Mirai. As my son noticed Mirai is not plot driven and it is a relatively hard watch for a kid to see, compared for instance to disney or pixar movies. Although my son was a bit bored the first half hour, the film picked up some pace, with some interesting fantasies and magical realism. The film as such is deeply indebted to Miyasaki and films like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited away, albeit more slower and a bit Ozu like. Hosoda is definitely his own, but seems aware of the japanese tradition of film making. I guess Guaporense could say a lot more about this film than me, but it was certainly interesting.

I will primarily recommend it to older kids and parents, who are interested in japanese culture.

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This is more of a life update. Last winter i finished my second bachelor degree. This time in Social Work, where i wrote about the social workers role in the work with young people with schizophrenia in social psychiatric living institutions. My first bachelor degree was in History and about the Social Democratic Party's Second World War occupation story here in Denmark. As it is i am going to start studying again next Friday. This time a masters degree in Educational Sociology at the university of educational studies (Danmarks Pædagogiske Universitet) here in Copenhagen. The last 6 months i have been working full time in an effort to start a new social psychiatric living institution in the center of Copenhagen, where we started an upturn community and collectives for young people with mental illnesses.

As it is i am reading a lot more than watching film, so i want to use this thread both for (arthouse) films and on reflections on the books i read.

I hope you will enjoy :)

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Englishness and Empire 1939-1965 by Wendy Webster (2005)

This book could be very interesting for some of the English movie buffs on MoFo. For me it was a difficult read with a lot of references that i as a foreigner to english media and cinema did not understand. The book seems well researched but hardly communicated well and the target audience seems to be english academics who are interest in English media history. Nonetheless the focal point of loss of imperial power and its relation to identity, British culture and decolonization is a very interesting subject matter. It was hard to give the book rating and my rating might seem harsh, though overall the interesting subject matter got lost in the communication (or mediation).

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Min mor var besat: Da jeg mødte depressionens dæmon (My Mother was Possessed: When I Met the Demon of Depression) by Peter Øvig Knudsen (2019)

Peter Øvig Knudsen is a fairly popular and mainstream writer focusing on a documentary style of writing, though often without references of the sources. He has used a lot of time focusing on the radical left wing in denmark; from old school communists to the squatters of the eighties. This time its a personal story of growing up with a mentally ill mother and then, while writing this book, develop a severe clinical depression of his own. In my opinion the book is far to long. PØK has a tendency to repeat himself when writing about his mother. His historical view of his mothers mental illness as something related to the historical time seems unfounded and a bit ridiculous. I also think i have personal issue with his writing style which as the title implies, is a bit sensationalist. While i am not to fond of this book, certain aspects of his own experience with severe depression is quite captivating. As a manic-depressive who works in psychiatry i lack a more professional view of depression and mental illness, than the sensationalist and action packed description by PØK.

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Den nye Internationale: Hvorfor Venstrefløjen skal omfavne Europa og demokratisere Verden (The New International: Why the Left Wing should Embrace Europe and Democratize the World) by Malte Frøslee Ibsen (2019)

A really interesting debate book by a Danish political theorist who among others is inspired by Jürgen Habermas and The Frankfurt School. In times where a no-deal Brexit seems to be a focal point of European politics Malte Frøslee Ibsen offers a view on why the left wing should embrace the European Union and in a democratization effort make a New Internationale. In a Danish context the left-wing, green and red party has historically been against the European Union, but changes towards a more pragmatic view of the European Union is happening and Ibsen seems to be a part of that movement. Essentially this also implies a stance against right wing nationalism which seems to be on a global rise, from Trump to Le Pen. As a former squatter and part of a youth movement for more autonomy I think this change in view of the European project also apply to me and i found the arguments very relevant and thoughtful.

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Menneskekød: grotesker 1910-1920 (Human Flesh: Grotesques 1910-1920) by Anders Jørgen Mogensen (editor), Andreas Bylov Jensen (editor) (2019)

A collection of short stories focusing on horror and pulp from the start of the last century. A lot of the stories are not on par with other books by this publisher and the quality is changing, mostly towards sub-par stories. I cannot really recommend this to other than people with a personal interest in Danish litterature from this period.

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Digte 2014 (Poems 2014) by Theis Ørntoft (2014)

An excellent selection of poems with an encompassing critique of civilization related to a personal 30-year crisis. My favorite selection of Danish poems read this year.



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Spørgsmålene (The Questions) by Majse Aymo-Boot (2012)

The Questions (2012) are a piece of doubtful and lyrical questions, which starts a wave of thoughts in the reader. Recommended for danish readers.



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105 variationer (105 Variations) by Peter-Clement Woetmann (2015)

I really want to like 105 variations, since i am a friend of Peter-Clements brother, but i really disliked both this and Bag bakkerne, kysten from 2017. As it is I have reserved his brothers collection of poems; Af det almene (From the normal) from 2018. Recommended to more political oriented poem readers.



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White Girl by Christina Hagen (2012)

The most provocative selection of poems i have read in a long time and it might be one of the most interesting lyrical pieces of what i have read. Its an anti-elitist and anti-PC piece of expression which i am not sure i am supposed to like. Really relevant in these safe space times.

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Over os hænger en vidunderlig sol (Above Us Hangs a Wonderful Sun)
by Majse Aymo-Boot (2014)

A short but difficult with a floating narrator. The story is set in late childhood which is quite relatable to Aymo-Boots The Questions from 2012. A pretty obscure but really good Danish novel.



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The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression by Andrew Solomon (2000)

The Noonday Demon by Andrew Solomon is a huge undertaking and highly relevant for me, both as a manic-depressive and a mental health specialist. My only critique is that Andrew Solomon wants to do too much. The book is simply to big and some of the chapters are not that relevant. The book could have been better angled and edited. Nonetheless it is one of the better books about depression from a writer who himself have experienced severe depression.



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Relikvie (Relic) by Julie Mendel (2017)

Recommended by my girlfriend if you want to read about loneliness and moving to another country. For me it felt a bit flat and i could not really relate to it, though i am hardly the target audience of this book.



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The Book of Frank by C.A. Conrad (2009)

A very interesting selection of queer poems by American writer C.A. Conrad. Some of them are outright surreal, but also quite funny. For me it bore resemblance of Frank O'hara and In Memory of My Feelings.

Highly recommended.

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Baxter, Vera Baxter (1977) by Marguerite Duras

Duras is one of my favorite female authors and as a director i have seen India Song, which was a very special experience. Baxter, Vera Baxter is also a very special cinematic experience with an interesting use of sound in relation to the mise-en-scene. The film is contrived, but in a good way, where you can sense the originality of Marguerite Duras. The narrative is rather bleak with near no emotional contact between the characters, which creates a rather powerful atmosphere of solitude.

Highly recommended

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Nathalie Granger (1972) by Marguerite Duras

My girlfriend and i saw yet another Duras film. This time Nathalie Granger from 1972. The film is set in a somewhat atypical family with two mothers and two children, where one of the children; Nathalie Granger, is a somewhat problematic and violent child. As with Baxter, Vera Baxter from 1977, there is an emotional detachment and distance. A somewhat troublesome situation is controlled with an emotional distance with a focus on routines in everyday life. In some aspects it really reminded me of the later Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce 1080 Bruxelles from 1975 by Chantal Akerman. Both film serves a feminist outlook with mothers in the dominant, albeit distanced, role. Nathalie Granger has a quite special or maybe even odd appearance by Depardieu which exposes the male character as quite fragile and uneven, compared to the more dominating and masculine females of the movie. Gender roles are subverted and redistributed in the rutines of everyday life.

Recommended for fans of Duras

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El-haimoune (Wanderers of the Desert) (1986) by Nacer Khemir

In our bi-weekly movie club Klub Aurora we have started to delve into African film, starting with the first movie of Nacer Khemir's Desert Trilogy from Tunisia. First of all it was a bit of a tough watch due to missing some of the cultural codes from Arab countries in the eighties. The story centers around a small village in the desert and the conflicting modes of spirituality and modernity, here centered on Nacer Khemir as the visiting teacher. Later the conflict revolves around the spiritual wanderers of the desert and an officer of the state investigating the missing teacher (Nacer Khemir). Overall the narrative seems labyrinthian with different modes of spirituality, for instance represented by djinns and broken mirrors, set in relation to a misunderstanding modernity, represented by the officer. A lot of the narrative where a bit lost on me, but nonetheless interesting. Aesthetically El-haimoune where quite minimalistic with som beautiful decors and settings (One of the members of Klub Aurora mentioned masonry work of the village). A bit of a hard watch but definitely recommended. Next time we are watching a film from Morocco :cool:

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The Book of Questions by Edmond Jabès (1963)

I really disliked this poetry collection, though there might be something cultural that i did not understand. It was a collection i found at my local library at random and i am not sure i can recommend it unless you are interested in jewish culture and history.



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"Det stopper kværnen i mit hoved": Om kunst i psykiatrien og Kunstcentret på Sct. Hans Hospital ("It stops the grinding in my head": About art in psychiatry and the art center at Sct. Hans) by Jeppe Kruse (2014)

A really interesting subject, which i am personally interested in, but a rather poorly written book and a poorly defined subject matter. The book was quickly read, but my expectations were not met.



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Der er ingen ærlige digte om døde kvinder (There are no honest poems about dead women) by Audre Lorde (2019)

I have been rather interested in intersectional feminism and had pretty high expectations for this selection of poems by Audre Lorde. The poor translation, however, made it a rather irritating experience and i am definitely considering reading something by Lorde in her primary language. I can not recommend this specific poetry collection but overall i think Lorde is interesting.



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Havbrevene (The Sea Letters) by Siri Ranva Hjelm Jacobsen

This is a Danish novel about a personified Atlantic Ocean and a personified Mediterranean who are sisters and writes letters to each other. A somewhat interesting idea, which in my opinion, is a bit too "cute", and also too short. My favorite thing about the book was the illustrations by artist Dorte Naomi.

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On the Political (2005) by Chantal Mouffe

I read this for my university class in Theories of Educational Sociology and wrote a lot about it in Danish. Mouffe partly inspired by Antonio Gramsci and cultural Marxism wrote a topical book on the political situation today partly inspired of criticism of "The Third Way" and the postpolitical situation in the nineties. A very inspiring book, especially if you want to understand the Syriza and Podemos movement, as well as the Trump Presidency.



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Den korsfæstede budding (The Crucified Pudding) (2016) by Simon Grotrian


I picked this up from my office after i learned that Simon Grotrian had died. The title seemed intruiging to me, though the subject matter did not really matter to me. The languaged seemed private and felt offputting to me.



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Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide by Kay Redfield Jamison

As a former social worker in a psychiatric living instistution as well as a manic depressive (such as Kay Redfield Jamison) i found Night Falls Fast very special. One of the main forces of Kay Redfield Jamisons books is her liteary knowledge in connection with mental illness, as well as her timely used stories from her own life. Higly recommended.



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Berlin (2018) by Jason Lutes

As a former history student mainly specialising in the history of the twentieth century, I found the interwar period extremely interesting. In terms of film i higly recommend Berlin Alexanderplatz by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. In relation to the time period and epic scope of the narrative I find Berlin by Jason Lutes comparable to Fassbinders long film, and they are both masterpieces within their artform. Berlin by Jason Lutes has been the only graphic novel i have read this year, but it has certainly been one of the best i have read in my life.



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Natural History by Reijo Kärkkäinen and Zven Balslev

A silkscreened artist book in a limited edition by a finish artist and Zven Balslev, who i have tattoo by and have worked with on musical productions. It is pretty much a Copenhagen phenomena, but if you are interested you could check out Cult Pump at Instagram.



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Cosmic Pessimism (2015) by Eugene Thacker

I genuinely disliked this book for its philosophical argumentations and aphorism on what could be characterized as a depressed world-view or being-in-this-world. I have a hard time coping with people who revel in pessimism for instance like Emil Cioran in "All Gall Is Divided" from 1952, which Thacker seems to be inspired by. If you are into existential crises per se, then you might find it interesting.

The next four books are four poetry collections ranging from the distasteful to the really clever, which was made with some real ingenuity.

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Live or Die (1966) by Anne Sexton

I was a bit ambivalent towards these poems by Anne Sexton, which in some ways were bordering the same problems i had with Cosmic Pessimism by Eugene Thacker, but on the other hand the poems were really well written. Not the best poems i have read this year, but certainly not the worst.



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Kunstens regler (The Rule of Art) (2019) by Jens Kæmpe

I dont like to berate stuff i dont like but this poetry collections was really distasteful and hopeless. By far the worst book i have read this year and hopefully it will not be translated.



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Af det almene (By the Common) (2018) by Lars-Emil Woetmann

I had Lars-Emil do a poetry reading from "Af det almene" to one of my receptions. I find his poems both a bit odd as well as quite exciting and i am really curious on what he will be up to next. In this poetry collection i found the jury service poems the most interesting



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Don't Call Us Dead (2017) by Danez Smith

A really clever selection of poetry, which i failed to grasp several times, though it was still extremely interesting. Just by the fact that i am neither gay/queer nor a person of colour or from the US, makes it kind of revalating to read these poems. Higly recommended to those living in the states.

A ranked list of the books i have read so far this year:

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International Novels (outside of Denmark):

1. Death in Venice by Thomas Mann (1912)
2. The Rings of Saturn by W. G. Sebald (1995)
3. Solaris by Stanislaw Lem (1961)
4. Occurrence in the Immediate Unreality by Max Blecher (1936)
5. Suicide by Édouard Levé (2008)
6. Flush by Virginia Woolf (1933)
7. Autoportrait by Édouard Levé (2005)
8. The Street by Crocodiles af Bruno Schulz (1933)
9. The Blindfold by Siri Hustvedt (1992)
10. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen (2010)
11. Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor (1952)

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Danish Novels:
1. Over os hænger en vidunderlig sol (A Wonderful Sun Hangs Above Us) by Majse Aymo-Boot (2014)
2. Ansigterne (The Faces) by Tove Ditlevsen (1968)
3. Den, der lever stille (The One, Who Lives Quietly) by Leonora Christina Skov (2018)
4. Havbrevene (The Sea Letters) by Siri Ranva Hjelm Jacobsen (2018)
5. Drømmeflygtningen (The Fugitive of Dreams) by Lillian Jacobsen (1978)

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International Short Stories:
1. Something Will Happen, You’ll See by Christous Ikonomou (2010)

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Danish Short Stories:
1. Efter solen (After the Sun) by Jonas Eika Rasmussen (2018)
2. Åndeverdenens dårekiste (The Madhouse of the Spiritworld) by B. S. Ingemann (2018 edition)
3. Rædselsrealisten (The Horror Realist) by Jakob Hansen (2018 udgave)
4. Forgribelser (The Trespassings) by Preben Major Sørensen (2017)
5. Menneskekød: Grotesker 1910-1920 (Human Flesh, Grotesques from 1910-1920) by Anders Jørgen Mogensen (Red.) and Andreas Bylov Jensen (Red.), (2019)
6. Nærvær og næsten (Precense and almost) by Svend Åge Madsen (2000)

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International Poems:
1. The Book of Frank by C.A. Conrad (2009)
2. Don’t Call Us Dead by Danez Smith (2017)
3. Excess – The Factory by Leslie Kaplan (1982)
4. Himlenes bog (Le Livre des ciels) (The Book of the Skies) by Leslie Kaplan (1983)
5. Live or Die by Anne Sexton (1966)
6. Der er ingen ærlige digte om døde kvinder (There are No Honest Poems About Dead Women) by Audre Lorde (2019 udgave)
7. Sigøjnerne & andre fortællende digte (Gypsies and other poems) by Aleksandr Pusjkin (2018 udgave)
8. The Book of Questions by Edmond Jabès (1963)

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Danish Poems:
1. Digte 2014 (Poems 2014) by Theis Ørntoft (2014)
2. Ideale begivenheder (Ideal Events) by Signe Gjessing (2016)
3. Det 3. årtusindes hjerte (The Third Millennium Heart) by Ursula Andkjær Olsen (2012)
4. White Girl by Christina Hagen (2012)
5. Af det almene (By the Common) by Lars-Emil Woetmann (2018)
6. Spørgsmålene (The Questions) by Majse Aymo-Boot (2012)
7. Force Majeure by Zven Balslev, Jonas Okholm Jensen og T.R. Kirstein (2018)
8. Den korsfæstede budding (The Crucified Pudding) by Simon Grotrian (2016)
9. Relikvie (Relic) by Julie Mendel (2017)
10. 105 variationer (105 Variations) by Peter-Clement Woetmann (2015)
11. Skygger paa jorden (Shadows on the Earth) by Tove Meyer (1943)

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Essay Collections:
1. In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays by Bertrand Russel (1935)
2. The Drowned and the Saved by Primo Levi (1986)
3. Forfatterens død og andre essays (The Death of the Writer and other Essays) by Roland Barthes (2004)
4. Against Everything: On Dishonest Times by Mark Greif (2016)
5. Bidrag til en nær bykritik (Contributions to a Near City Critique) by Bypolitisk organisering (2018)
6. Welcome to the Desert of the Real: Five Essays on September 11 and Related Dates by Slavoj Zizek (2002)
7. Fame by Andy Warhol (2018 udgave)
8. Cosmic Pessimism by Eugene Thacker (2015)

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Psychiatry:
1. Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide by Kay Redfield Jamison (2000)
2. The Reflecting Team by Tom Andersen (1994)
3. Borderline Personality Disorder and the Boundaries of the Schizophrenia Spectrum: Conceptual trajectories, core psychopathology, and differential disarray by Maja Zandersen (2018)
4. The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression by Andrew Solomon (2002)
5. The Politics of Experience and The Bird of Paradise by R. D. Laing (1967)
6. Min mor var besat: Da jeg mødte depressionens dæmon (My Mother was Possessed: When I Met the Demon of Depression) by Peter Øvig Knudsen (2019)
7. ”Det stopper kværnen i mit hoved”: Om kunst i psykiatrien og Kunstcentret på Sct. Hans Hospital ("It stops the grinding in my head": About art in psychiatry and the art center at Sct. Hans) by Jeppe Kruse (2014)

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History:
1. Englishness and Empire 1939-1965 by Wendy Webster (2005)

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Politics and Political Philosophy
1. On the Political by Chantal Mouffe (2005)
2. On Civil Disobedience and Liberal Democracy by Tine Hindkjær Madsen (2019).
3. Den nye Internationale: Hvorfor Venstrefløjen skal omfavne Europa og demokratisere Verden by Malte Frøslee Ibsen (2019)
4. The Politics of Aesthetics by Jacques Ranciére (2000)

Educational Sociology:
1. Uren pædagogik by Lene Tanggaard, Thomas Aastrup Rømer og Svend Brinkmann (2011)

Biographies
1. Mayhem by Sigrid Rausing (2017)

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Artist Books
1. Pulp Magma by Zven Balslev (2017)
2. Péché Mignon by Anne Van Der Linden (2019)
3. Pisdrøm by Zven Balslev (2019)
4. Natural History by Reijo Kärkkäinen og Zven Balslev (2019)
5. Gadens parlament by Malene Meisner (2012)

Graphic Novels:
1. Berlin #1-3 by Jason Lutes (2018)

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I'm Going Home (Je rentre à la maison) (2001) by Manoel de Oliveira

A film about the journey towards retirement and ultimately death. I'm Going Home is a slow paced and perfectly filmed story about solitude in an old age. Parisian actor Gilbert Valence everyday life is confronted by the death of his wife, daughter and son-in-law. That shock starts an journey from a career in theater and arthouse film, towards taking care of his grandson and going into retirement. There is a sublime scene where the aging actor is confronted by a friend, where most of the scene is their shoes pictured, during the conversation. Certainly a symbolic gesture towards the protagonist forthcoming journey. The film has some very interesting reflections on solitude, career and independent filmmaking.

Highly recommended



Manoel de Oliveira's films ranked:

1. I'm Going Home (2001)
2. No, or the Vain Glory of Command (1990)
3. Aniki Bóbó (1942)

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Broken Blossoms (1919) by D.W. Griffith

A rather sad and heartbreaking story with some extremely interesting scenery. So far Broken Blossoms is my favorite Griffith

D.W. Griffith ranked:
1. Broken Blossoms (1919)
2. Intolerance (1916)
3. The Birth of a Nation (1915)

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A Japanese Village (Nippon-koku Furuyashiki-mura) (1982) by Shinsuke Ogawa

In my local cinematheque there is a new arthouse movie club for connoisseurs run by festival crew called Terrassen bio which screens rather unknown films on real film and with free entrance. Nippon-koku Furuyashiki-mura from 1982 was one of those obscure films that you would never find yourself. It has 88 ratings on letterboxd and with a running time of three and half hours a few of the audience left in the intermission. It was a strong documentary on village life in Japan, from the rice harvest to charcoal production and wartime efforts. It had several scenic shots of the white mist going down the mountains and several extremely interesting interviews with local people. One of the best documentaries i have seen this year, though at the same time, quite a tough watch, due to the length of the film.

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New Wave (Nouvelle vague) (1990) by Jean-Luc Godard

Nouvelle Vague by Jean-Luc Godard was rather esoteric and not one of my favorite of his. It was my 35th film by Godard, so at least you can say that i am a fan of his work in general. Nouvelle vague however came off as a really abstract and disjointed film which in my opinionen needed some guidance of the viewer. The best thing about the film was the wonderful colour palette in the pictures.

Only recommended for die hard Godard fans.

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Our Hospitality (1923) by Buster Keaton and John G. Blystone

Our Hospitality was my seventh Keaton film and while i enjoyed it, it did not resonate so much with me. It was fun to see some of the gags in the first part of the film and the big stunts in the second half, though i must say that i enjoy a lot of his other movies more.



Buster Keaton ranked:

1. The General (1926)
2. The Cameraman (1928)
3. One Week (1920)
4. Sherlock Jr. (1924)
5. Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)
6. Our Hospitality (1923)
7. The Goat (1921)

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The Docks of New York (1928) by Josef von Sternberg

The Docks of New York was a rather archaic depiction of gender roles in the first part of the last century. There was some quite interesting and beautiful scenes though the film as such lacked depth. It is not my favorite Sternberg but interesting as a historical document nonetheless.

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Joseph von Sternberg ranked:
1. The Last Command (1928)
2. Dishonored (1931)
3. Shanghai Express (1932)
4. The Scarlet Empress (1934)
5. Underworld (1927)
6. The Docks of New York (1928)
7. Morocco (1930)

Re: TokeZa's inane ramblings about film
 

Have you seen "Ana-ta-han"? It's a 10/10 and I saw it on YouTube.

No, but i can remember that you recommended it before. It's certainly on my watch list. What have you seen from Sternberg?

That is the only one. TCM once had a von Sternberg day, but I couldn't get into any of them. I'll probably try him again one day when I can't find any movies to watch (which is right now, although I tried a re-watch a few days ago of Cassavetes' Bookie, which I didn't like at first, but its the only one of his movies I haven't seen at least twice).

Cassavetes is really good. I am considering watching Husbands today! One of my favorite American directors, though i had a tough time getting into his mode of films.

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Tootsie (1982) by Sydney Pollack

Tootsie is in dire need of a queer theoretical critique. Definitely not my kind of movie.



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The Wind (1928) by Victor Sjöström

Another intriguing but rather depressive film by Sjöström.



Victor Sjöström ranked:

1. The Phantom Carriage (1921)
2. The Wind (1928)
3. He Who Gets Slapped (1924)

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Le Joli mai (1963) by Chris Marker and Pierre Lhomme

Another insightful documentary by Chris Marker who in this film depicts a Paris before the youth rebellion in 68. Its focal point is city life in the context of France colonial past and the upsurge of communism after the second world war. Chris Marker is certainly a top tier documentarist with a keen eye for odd angles and sceneries.

Highly recommended.



Chris Marker ranked:

1. Sans soleil (1983)
2. Level Five (1997)
3. La Jetée (1962)
4. Le Joli mai (1963)
5. Les astronautes (1959)
6. Dimanche à Pekin (1956)
7. Description d'un combat (1960)
8. Vive la baleine (1972)
9. A.K. (1985)
10. Junkopia (1981)

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Mr. Hulot's Holiday (1953) by Jacques Tati

I remember kind of disliking of at least having a hard time getting into Playtime by Tati, which is the only one i have seen of his films. Mr. Hulot's Holiday is as Playtime a rather strange and outlandish comedy which underlines the space between people as a circumstance of modernity. It was a great experience and a lot of (odd) fun. Certainly a special film.

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Jacques Tati ranked:

1. Mr. Hulot's Holiday (1953)
2. Playtime (1967)

Second (and further) viewings are always better with Cassavetes. I think its because he doesn't spoon-feed his audience, despite a lot of things happening at once.

I kind of forgot about Cassevettes, but A Woman Under the Influence was a perfect movie. One of the things that stood out most initially was how realistic and compelling the phone call conversations were. I've only seen that and Rosemary's Baby.

From both of you, Matt and Tokeza, what do you think his best films are?

I was actually quite torn about A Woman Under the Influence on a personal level. I am a recovered manic-depressive who have worked 5+ years in social psychiatric living institutions for the mentally ill and am now working as a research assistent on a research project on the criminally insane. I did not like it when i saw it back in 2014 but i am sure my perception of it will improve on a re-watch. At the time i thought it was degrading and demeaning towards the mentally ill, but i am not in a similar place (mentally) today, so i would probably hold a new view if it, if i saw it today.

A quick top 5 would be:
1. Love Streams (1984)
2. The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976)
3. Opening Night (1977)
4. Faces (1968)
5. A Woman Under the Influence (1974)

Though my favorite movie with Cassavetes is certainly Rosemary's baby which i adore. One of the best paranoia thrillers / horrors out there, even if its made by Polanski.

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie does seem to be one that stands out reputation-wise. I think "paranoid thriller" is a good way to describe Rosemary's Baby. I like to think of a true horror film in the purest sense, being an extremely rare thing that actually makes you feel a profoundly intense fear such as The Exorcist or Alien. Rosemary's Baby wasn't terrifying so much as anxious and creepy. They captured well the stress of being told you're delusional and imagining things when everything you're saying is true to the point where you even start to question what you know to be true. But I liked A Woman Under the Influence more because the acting was so much more realistic in a lot of subtle ways. I think I can understand what you mean about not liking the way the mental illness was portrayed, but I think that's part of what makes it so great. It's a kind of unapologetic realism that shows something about life that many people may not actually want to see. I think it takes a lot of courage and understanding to show those things authentically. Life isn't clear-cut, it's full of dilemmas and is incredibly complex. In A Woman Under the Influence I just saw people struggling in life, and that was so real to me. There were a lot of other subtleties that added to the realism, like the length of pauses when you couldn't hear what was being said on the other end of the telephone line. Most films wouldn't pause that long for fear of boring the audience. But it's really about the relationship between a man who loves his wife, who herself really needs help, and just because someone goes to the hospital and supposedly gets help doesn't mean they're in the clear, and that sense of her own responsibility. She wasn't just an innocent victim. It wasn't about right and wrong, innocent and victim, it was more about the whole dilemma from conflicting perspectives. I really do need to watch it again myself though as it's a bit hazy.

Your line of work sounds really interesting. I won't pry, but I myself have been working as a social worker at a homeless shelter for a little over 6 years now. I work with addicts and the mentally ill every day, and I love them. I tell them not to beat themselves up if they relapse and just take life one step at a time. When I see them upset, muttering to themselves, and tossing their hands in the air, I go ask them what's wrong, and I don't settle for the first, "Nothing." I ask gently with empathy and say, "It seems like something is bothering you," and find out what exactly it is, if there is anything I can do to solve the problem, or if I can cheer them up. I've seen people over the years improve in their mental health, and a huge part of that is loneliness. Not having anyone to talk to, nothing to do, no fun or happiness in their life, and so if I can I bring that to them. I ask them about their life and listen, follow up and really care, and it's so much fun. They're just people and I don't care if they are addicted to drugs, went to prison, have schizophrenia or what. One guy told me that he was one of the six angels along with Gabriel, Michael, and Lucifer. He said a lot of nonsense that I couldn't understand, but he also talked about how a person walks from one point to another and thinks it's just empty space they're walking through, but it's not. It's full of tiny particles and the planet is constantly moving through space and at any point God can just close that space and you won't be able to walk through it. I thought that made a lot of sense. Now he's stable on meds that balance him, and he's more normal, but I talked to him about that and he remembered it and reiterated the point. Even when someone is uttering seeming nonsense there's reason behind it and a real person who's intelligent and understands what's going on.

I think movies like A Woman Under the Influence resonate with me because of how much they understand about life, and you can see it in so many implicit ways.

I feel like I'm being way too introspective and long-winded. I want to relate and understand what you meant about feeling like it was demeaning towards the mentally ill. Actually, I think it was demeaning, but in an intentional way. Not that the movie itself was demeaning them, but that it was showing how people demean them, like for example how she came back from the hospital and they really didn't effectively help her. And how her husband couldn't relate to her. She didn't get the help she needed, and that was tragic. But she wasn't just an innocent victim, she was a culprit too. I think the movie was exploring a very real and difficult struggle that for some people is their daily life.

By the way, totally unrelated, but have you seen Noi Albanoi? I think you'd love it, but I bet you've already seen it. It's just the most excited I've been over a film recently.

Re: TokeZa's inane ramblings about film
 

That really makes me want to see A Woman Under the Influence again. Great comment!

Especially this: "Rosemary's Baby wasn't terrifying so much as anxious and creepy. They captured well the stress of being told you're delusional and imagining things when everything you're saying is true to the point where you even start to question what you know to be true.", which is what a lot of paranoia is about.

I haven't seen Noi the Albino, but it sounds really good! I haven't even heard about, even though i am from a scandinavian country!

Re: TokeZa's inane ramblings about film
 

Awe, thanks for the nice compliments. Do let me know when you re-watch A Woman Under the Influence.

I'm surprised you haven't even heard of Noi Albanoi. I mean, you really seem on top of the arthouse world more than anyone I've encountered, not just on movieforums. So I figured you'd probably have already seen it or at least been well aware of it. It got a lot of attention when it came out and it's one of those movies that pops up every now and then in the arthouse scene. I think I saw a trailer for it alongside La Haine. It won some impressive awards, so the critics were buzzing about it for a while. I got it second-hand and when i saw it on the shelf I'd already heard about it and had a really good vibe which it completely surpassed. Actually the movie was nothing like I expected and I have a hard time even describing it. I'm a little worried about building it up too much though. I don't want to say too much, but I can't wait to hear your thoughts when you do watch it. I just think it's right up your alley.

Latest batch of foreign films:

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The End of St. Petersburg (1927) by Vsevolod Pudovkin and Mikhail Doller



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Nightfall (2016) by Anocha Suwichakornpong and Tulapop Saenjaroen



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Overseas (2012) by Anocha Suwichakornpong and Wichanon Somunjarn

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Mundane History (2009) by Anocha Suwichakornpong



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The Nun (1966) by Jacques Rivette

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The Left-Handed Woman (1977) by Peter Handke

A quite sentimental break-up narrative in the context of slow cinema. The Left-Handed Woman is reminiscent of female auteurs (and writers) such as Duras and Akerman, albeit this is a males feminist view. The film has several references to Ozu and its exploration of modern relationships seems to build on the framework of family. The movie had several moments of bliss and zen, which made it one of best movie experiences this year. Peter Handke, a frequent collaborator with Wim Wenders, should, in my opinion, have directed more than the few movies he did.

Highly recommended and a hidden gem.

Latest batch of films:

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The Beautiful Troublemaker (1991) by Jacques Rivette

Another great marathon film by Rivette

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Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) by Jake Kasdan

I saw this with my son in the theatre. I guess it was not to bad.

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The Irishman (2019) by Martin Scorsese

Not one of the best films by Scorsese, but certainly worth the watch

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) by Steven Spielberg

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This Is Spinal Tap (1984) by Rob Reiner

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Joan the Maid 1.: The Battles (1994) by Jacques Rivette

Joan the Maid 2.: The Prisons (1994) by Jacques Rivette

Is there a newly restored version of A Japanese Village? Because the only one I saw years back was of dismal quality (film was fantastic though) with faded burnt in subs which were indiscernible from the background at times.

Re: TokeZa's inane ramblings about film
 

Oh yes, I did have my Eye on Rivette's Joan of Arc movies, thanks for reminded me about them. I love Joan of Arc movies, and they look pretty spectacular.

I saw it in the cinema in a local arthouse club called Terassen on 35 mm. They had the film flown in, so i am not sure it was newly restored, at least i do not think so.

Thanks! It's a super obscure film that I grabbed from KG. At least you saw it in its best possible state if your arthouse club actually flew in the film. By the way, a newly restored copy of the Iranian classic Brick and Mirror has recently surfaced online, and I absolutely can't wait for the proper english subtitles to be made available.

Re: TokeZa's inane ramblings about film
 

I've gone back and forth with that one so much, haha, far more than I've done compared the rest of his films.

A few years ago when I first watched it, I thought it was good, not great. The second watch I thought it was impeccable. Last year I watched it for a third time, after I'd watched nearly every other film of his, and felt like it was was middling. Then a few months ago I revisited for the 4th and most recent time, and it moved up the ranks yet again into my top 25 Godard films, haha.

I honestly can't think of any other film of his that I've been so wishy-washy about after each rewatch. There's films like Breathless that have steadily dropped in my rankings — but no other film of his went from a 4/5 to a 5/5, down to a 3/5, back to a 4.5/5. I guess surprises like that come with the territory though, haha.

Re: TokeZa's inane ramblings about film
 

One of my faves <3

Hah, yeah, it is a pretty serious movie club. They got funding from the state art foundation and last time they showed 3 movies by Rosalind Nashashibi, where she attended the screening. Next time it a screening of Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles by Chantal Akerman. All of it is for free.

I will definitely check up on Brick and Mirror, though i do not have much time to watch movies regularly anymore.

Hmm no, I definitely think that some of Godards material is quite dubious, though he is certainly one of the directors i have seen the most from. I am at 35 Godard films as we speak and he is probably one of the most prolific directors out there.

I guess my favorite is still Pierrot le Fou. What is your favorite?

Re: TokeZa's inane ramblings about film
 

Germany Year 90 Nine Zero, or "Origins of the 21st Century"

Last bunch of films

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Parasite (2019) by Boon Joon-Ho

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Kinoglaz (1924) by Dziga Vertov

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Paris Belongs to Us (1960) by Jacques Rivette

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Uncut Gems (2019) by Josh Safdie and Ben Safdie

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The Two Roads (1973) by Mani Kaul

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Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) by Jeff Fowler

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Un divan à New York (1996) by Chantal Akerman

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Color Out of Space (2019) by Richard Stanley

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American Honey (2016) by Andrea Arnold

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Finding Vivian Maier (2013) by John Maloof and Charlie Siskel

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National Gallery (2014) by Frederick Wiseman

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