The Painted Bird
Glad this was nominated because even though it was already on my watchlist, it probably would have been quite a while until I had gotten to it due to its length. It was not on my war film watchlist, and even now I don't see it as a war film. I viewed it as a microcosm of all of the cruelty that happens in the world, and that includes wartime atrocities. Great job capturing the time and place, although it could have just as easily been set today because this stuff happens every day. We live in a world where a starving person can steal a piece of bread, and they will quickly be burned alive in full view of everyone in town and nobody blinks an eye. There are millions of people in the world who would nuke America with a snap of their fingers if they could just for a laugh. It's the sad reality that exists. This film is stunningly well made, and I think if not for all of the controversial subject matter, would be looked at similarly to beloved films like The White Ribbon, and those from Directors like Tarr and Tarkovsky. Saying I enjoyed the film would be a stretch. I certainly do not revel in anyone's misery, but I enjoy feeling something. Disgust and sadness qualifies as something so to me this was a rousing success.
Glad this was nominated because even though it was already on my watchlist, it probably would have been quite a while until I had gotten to it due to its length. It was not on my war film watchlist, and even now I don't see it as a war film. I viewed it as a microcosm of all of the cruelty that happens in the world, and that includes wartime atrocities. Great job capturing the time and place, although it could have just as easily been set today because this stuff happens every day. We live in a world where a starving person can steal a piece of bread, and they will quickly be burned alive in full view of everyone in town and nobody blinks an eye. There are millions of people in the world who would nuke America with a snap of their fingers if they could just for a laugh. It's the sad reality that exists. This film is stunningly well made, and I think if not for all of the controversial subject matter, would be looked at similarly to beloved films like The White Ribbon, and those from Directors like Tarr and Tarkovsky. Saying I enjoyed the film would be a stretch. I certainly do not revel in anyone's misery, but I enjoy feeling something. Disgust and sadness qualifies as something so to me this was a rousing success.