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bdmitchell
Reviews
Bokeh (2017)
Reminiscent of another fim
I just watched "Bokeh" on Netflix. Within seconds, the Iceland location drew me in. As the minimalist plot unfolded (or melted) I began to think of an earlier (1985) film that was set in another island, half-way around the world. The New Zealand classic, "The Quiet Earth", told a far more imaginative story while dealing with similar themes: existence; resilience; loneliness; and survival. Still, the stunning beauty of Iceland is unique and presents an interesting location for this rather pedestrian film.
The Viking Sagas (1995)
A reasonably accurate retelling of ancient stories
What a refreshing retelling of stories that I read as part of my honors thesis way back when. Unlike recent Hollywood epics, this film gives a real sense of the land, its heritage and its people. I recall seeing a great foreign film in 1969 entitled Hagbard and Signe (The Red Mantle in the rest of the world). This film echoes that earlier epic both in content and beauty. (Unfortunately, the earlier film is nowhere to be found.) I would highly recommend both of the films, along with the original Pathfinder for anyone who shares an interest in the sagas and who also desires realism in a Nordic film. (Note: I would that Hollywood would do away with the horned helmets, dragon boats,etc. in films that deal with the Nordic sagas.)