Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > Catastrophe (2000)

Catastrophe (2000) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 2 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   100 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 8% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
David Mamet
Writer:
Samuel Beckett (play)
Contact:
View company contact information for Catastrophe on IMDbPro.
Genre:
Short more
Plot:
A stage director and his female assistant find the blackest protagonist possible, then make him up as white as possible, to create the titular character. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Comments:
no matter try again fail again fail better more

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Harold Pinter ... The Director

Rebecca Pidgeon ... The Director's Assistant

John Gielgud ... The Protagonist
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
Italy:6 min (Venice Film Festival)
Country:
UK | Ireland
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Sound Mix:
Dolby SR

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
John Gielgud's final acting project. more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
15 out of 17 people found the following comment useful:-
no matter try again fail again fail better, 7 March 2003
4/10
Author: drn5 from Canada

It's quite an achievement to take a five minute play and completely miss the point, but that's what David Mamet seems to have done. Beckett's play is about a director and his assistants trying to create a stage image of abject despair. They take an actor, the Protagonist, who remains silent throughout, and adjust him and tweak him until his clothing and posture project the required image of pitiful dejectedness. Then they shine a light on him and admire their handiwork, and the applause of a vast audience echoes through the theatre. But instead of staying in his abject position, the Protagonist rebels: he lifts his head and stares the audience in the eye. The applause falters and dies. End of play.

It's probably the most optimistic play Beckett wrote and symbolises the indomitability of the human spirit in the face of totalitarianism (it was written for the imprisoned Czech playwright Vaclav Havel).

Anyway, Mamet spoils it by trying to make it naturalistic. First, he films it in a real place, which looks like a tiny theatre in a village hall, with dinky wooden chairs and a parquet floor. This means that Harold Pinter, as the Director, looks like a local amateur dramatics honcho rather than a symbol of totalitarian oppression. Secondly, Mamet ignores Beckett's stage direction about the applause of a vast audience, and instead gives us only the Director's Assistant clapping; this removes the film even further from its satire on totalitarianism. Finally, Mamet obscures John Gielgud's poignant performance as the Protagonist: we don't see him raise his head, and only see his face for a couple of seconds (whereas Beckett asks for a long pause), so the play's most powerful moment is muffled.

All I have to say, Mr Mamet, is, IT'S MEANT TO BE SYMBOLIC!! Hello...?

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Catastrophe (2000)

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Libertine Stage Beauty The War Against Terror: The Musical Cloaca Swan Song
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits News articles
IMDb Short section IMDb UK section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.