Nietzsche (2003) (V)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Bryan Harley

Writers:

Bryan Harley (co-writer)
Andrew Isaac (screenplay)

Genre:

Short | Drama

Plot:

Two coworkers have a conversation about the philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche. |

Plot Keywords:

Nietzsche | Philosophy

Cast

Andrew Isaac	...	Ezekiel
Jared Marshall	...	Samuel

Runtime:

USA:6 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Fresno, California, USA

Company:

AMF Productions

Trivia:

One of the only films to screen at Fresno Reel Pride Gay & Lesbian Film Festival that didn't deal with gay issues and was made by a straight filmmaker.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Ezekiel: God is dead.

Interesting

This film opens bluntly. "God is dead" says one character. From there, the two characters who sit alone at a table debate existentialism from Nietzsche, to Kierkegaard, Sartre. The basic structure of their discussions hinge on Nietzsche's idea that man is a lowly creature; then to Kierkegaard saying life has no structure; and back to man, this time in Sartre's opinion.

The setting and score are kept simple; we don't want to be distracted by things other than the conversation. At first it seems there's little story structure; it's essentially two people debating, we don't know why or what it's supposed to accomplish. This lacking could, however, tie in with all that they are discussing in a between-the-lines manner.

There is also a lot of cursing in this film. So no kids! The ending both binds everything together and breaks it apart. Not expected, but cliched. But the dialogue is good. I'm glad to see other people my age not only read but also understand philosophy.

Most will probably dislike this one, but since I'm a philosophy major, I sympathize and give it 7/10. But then, what did Nietzsche say about pity?