Mefisto-4 Reviews

Stalker (1979)

waiting for the end of the film

[2/10 · 31 March 1999]

Tarkowski is one of the most praised Russian directors but I can't see why after watching this film. The photography is bad and the story itself is worth nothing. the film is full of symbols and hidden meanings and it is to the spectator to reveal them. That's why intellectual people like this film because they can say that they understand it and so make impression on their fellow intellectuals. But symbols on itself don't make the film more valuable. It is just a boring film. The characters are not interesting and the story is stupid.

The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (1972)

Typical Fassbinder film

[9/10 · 31 March 1999]

This is a typical Fassbinder movie: very strong psychological characterisation of the main characters, lot of talking, nearly no action. All the scenes of the film are located in the bedroom of Petra von Kant, a rich fashion designer. In that bedroom people are discussing life, love, ambition, frustration, despair and so on. So, a lot of talking although one of the most important characters does not say one word. It takes some effort of the spectator to follow the film but it is quite an interesting film. You should be glad if you see one such a film a month.