johnandrewberardo Reviews

Time of the Gypsies (1988)

A great example if Eastern European Cinema

[7/10 · 14 December 2007]

Time of the Gypsies is a modern day comedy turned tragedy beautifully directed by Emir Kusturica. This director unfolds the events in the life of a young gypsy boy: Ahmed. Ahmed embodies an underdog heroin who over comes the trials of living as a thief, taken under by a villainous tyrant who steals from the rich and the poor.

The one aspect that I truly loved about this film was its ability to turn the tables of genre and style so fast. At times you'd think the film was a comedy, but would then turn to a "by the book" tragedy. Also, as real as the characters and scenario were, an overlay of magic and fantasy was added by various characters. (Namely the women: Ahmed's grandmother and wife.) Time of the Gypsies embodies Eastern European cinema. It pin points the contrast of the poor and the rich. There's an allegorical message thats hidden behind this film about the evils of power and dominance. Whether Ahmed is commanding a group of people or his own wife, Kusturica exemplifies the dangers of it. Time of a Gypsies is a film that will stick to you as an audience member as it exposes you to oppression and corruption, a world that most people are never exposed to.

The Other Conquest (1998)

An educational experience.

[9/10 · 14 December 2007]

Not many movie goers get the chance to experience hearing from a director, first hand, after watching their film. After watching The Other Conquest, I was educated on an event that no American public schools dare to teach in many history classes. Director Salvador Carrasco envisions a historical event in time and brilliantly composes it in front of our very own eyes.

The Other Conquest is an epic story about a Franciscan priest who tries to convert a late Aztec scribe to the Christian church after the brutal events of the Spanish Conquest. After his family is brutally murdered and his life spared by the tyrant Hernando Cortes, Topiltzin discovers his long lost sister is the mistress of the Conqueror of Mexico. He is then renamed Tomas and savagely punished for his crimes as his soul is torn between the Aztec Mother Goddess and the Virgin Mary.

This film really struck me as a process of soul searching. As I said, I've never really been properly educated on the event of the Spanish Conquest. The torment that Topilzin endures is a straw of hay in the barrel of this event. Carrasco successfully opened my eyes to the downfall of the Aztecs on a personal level that is rare for a third party to feel. Watching this film is not only an educational phenomenon, but it's a emotional drama that will have you think twice of your beliefs and the actions of others.

Come and See (1985)

An assault of images.

[10/10 · 14 December 2007]

Not many films can capture the bottom of the jar of realism. Come and See, directed by Elem Klimov is one of the most realistic films that captures the terror of World War II in Russia. Nazi Germany invades Russia slaughtering villagers and massacring Jews. The story centrals on a young boy, Fleor, who witnesses his family's death, escapes dropping bombs, escapes a burning building, and still has his gun in the end.

Come and See is a kinetic piece of cinema that will stick with me for the rest of my life. After watching Spielberg's Schindler's List, I didn't think it was possible to be effected as I was. Klimov does a fantastic job in disturbing his audience by showing the true terrors of the war. He assaults the audience with his images of violence. He expresses the "glee" of the Nazi's to a perfect T. Yet, behind all the horror, Klimov centrals Come and See on a young boy who doesn't lose his soul in a time when it would be easy to give up. If you want to watch a film that will expose you to the actualities of the Nazi's, then watch this movie. Klimov's Come and See is a film that is in pursuit of something real, and it finds just that, if not more.

The Phantom of Liberty (1974)

An Anstraction of events.

[7/10 · 14 December 2007]

I love watching movies that I walk away from having to think and understand what just unfolded in front of my eyes. Yet, I hate it when I just don't understand it. The Phantom of Liberty is a film that most people will feel that way about. Luis Bunel directs a film that unfolds like a dream. If you think about it, dreams make sense until you wake up. The Phantom of Liberty is a film that doesn't pass moral judgement of the extremities of good and evil. It's in the middle.

One character connects to another character in stories that are completely irrelevant. As a millennium baby, I found it very difficult to stay in tune as the story jumped around constantly with out tying together. "Random" is a word that would best simplify this film. Bunel does a fantastic job thinning down the line between what's real and what isn't. He allows his characters to act out their fantasies and desires without moral judgement. (Most of the character's desires involve sexual oppression.) I got the overall message that the director sent my way, but my entertainment level was on and off. Films "now'a'days" have to be faster and exciting, or be slow and make a sense. The Phantom of Liberty was a big abstract message that one could really appreciate, but not necessarily enjoy. It's like eating your vegetables, do it, they're good for you.

Ran (1985)

The Brilliance of Colors

[10/10 · 14 December 2007]

Ran is one of the best pieces of Japanese cinema. As an adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear, it truly fascinated me. Akita Kurosawa directs Ran with the brilliance of modern realism and Japanese theatre with the additions of an epic story. It begins with a king separating his kingdom between his three sons. Two of them accept his offer, whereas one declines, insulting his powerful father and being banished from the kingdom. One could already guess the events that unfold after are not good. The first two sons both struggle with the responsibility of power, as the old king struggles with the lack of it.

Ran truly exploits the tyranny of power and the lust and greed for it. As a great war epic, it embodies the longer takes as moments of reflection that are very much needed for the deeper drama of the story. The deep focus is something that is taken advantage of in every shot. Kurosawa models the downfall of a ruthless king and his only talent of killing and greed. The one thing that I truly admired about this film was the vibrant colors. Kurosawa is very expressionistic with the color in the film. Each son has a particular color to represent as their own. Also, the use of white on characters expresses evil, which is something that is usually expressed as the opposite. The red vibrance of the blood in the battle scenes is something to admire. Growing up watching war films like Saving Private Ryan and Braveheart, color isn't something you see a lot of. I really admired that polar opposite that I witnessed in this film.

The last thing I'm going to touch is Kurosawa's use of nature as a whole character. Each scene appreciates nature which is something that is deeply integrated into the Japanese culture. I loved Ran and hope to achieve it's success as a filmmaker myself.