jastevens42 Reviews

Vakvagany (2002)

Disappointing and dreadful

[1/10 · 10 September 2003]

I first came across a reference to this film last year on James Ellroy's website. It sounded intriguing, and I awaited it's release with great anticipation. I was, however, quite disappointed. What we have here is some grainy home movie footage intercut with some specious analysis by Ellroy, the late Dr. Roy Menninger, and the late Stan Brakhage, commenting upon some questionable goings-on among members of the Locsei family in Hungary after WWII. Filmmaker Meade tracks down the siblings in the film (Erno and Etruska) for their comments. This is where 'dreadful' begins: Erno is a mentally disabled, unwashed alcoholic; we are treated to several scenes of him drinking wine the filmmakers have provided to secure his cooperation, long stretches of untranslated Hungarian, and a charming scene of urination in a field. Sister Etruska has her home broken into by the filmakers. We watch her shielding her face from the camera while she repeatedly demands they not invade her privacy. I cannot imagine the cruelty, or at least indifference, that would motivate anyone to pursue this material, much less offer it up for public consumption.

I have viewed other user comments to this film, and appear to be in the minority. But if you like films about disturbed individuals, I suggest Errol Morris' MR DEATH instead.

Happy Days (2000 TV Movie)

Not true to Beckett

[1/10 · 10 September 2003]

Patricia Rozema's production of 'Happy Days' is a profoundly disappointing experience. When I heard the play was going to be filmed as part of the 'Beckett on Film' series I was delighted, since the longer plays are seldom performed where I live, and I have great respect for Ms. Rozema's other work. And I am not one of those Beckett afficionados who rails against 'interpretation' of the plays, since everyone involved in any stage production has a hand in interpreting. However, the power of this play is not in the words, but in the silences. In her comments on her approach, she states that she was after as natural an approach as possible, which apparently requires Rosaleen Linehan to get through her dialog as quickly as possible, disregarding the direction 'pause'. Ms. Linehan spent several weeks buried up to her waist, and later her neck, at the top of a volcano in the Canary Islands to make this film. A bit more 'stagey-ness' and theatricality would have made this a little less dull.

The Maids (1975)

Does Genet justice

[10/10 · 10 September 2003]

I first saw 'The Maids' on PBS in the early 1980s, and loved it. The American Film Series was briefly available in Betamax format, but has long been unavailable. Now the series has been released on VHS and DVD, and I am delighted.

At the time I was unfamiliar with the play; this film served as an introduction to Genet's work, and further to the so-called 'Theatre of the Absurd.' Glenda Jackson and Susannah York give absolutely incredible performances as Solange and Claire, the title characters, who take turns dressing as their mistress (played by Vivien Merchant), and abusing each other in a parody of the master/slave relationship. It is difficult to recapitulate the plot in the space provided. Being faithful to the source text, the film is very wordy, and with a lesser cast and director would probably be unwatchable, but if you like full-throttle acting by three of the twentieth century's best actresses, and don't need an edit every four seconds, this is worth your time.