This was actually recommended to me by a buddy who had taken a class that just ended recently where he had to watch this. The way he made it out to be turned me off completely, but he had the DVD on him, and so I just picked it up and gave a shot. Now, for those who don't know this already, Theo Angelopolous is basically a Greek, less-accessible version of Andrei Tarkovsky, which says a whole Hell of a lot. Now obviously I love Tarkovsky's films, but at times they are very difficult. The idea of a sprawling, faux-epic that basically travels all around the Balkans and Eastern Europe (my homeland), is a good idea...for a documentary. Doing it without any kind of logical narrative such as this, offering no exposition whatsoever, and using Harvey Keitel to anchor the film had be bored to tears within the first hour or so. The sweeping landscape shots were very good in their own way, but it's not Tarkovsky, plain and simple. However, as the plot seemed to thicken and as we got to see the range of emotions Mr. A (Keitel's character) was written to emit, more and more became apparent, and at same time the visuals were upped significantly. The people and places he encounters along his two hour and forty-eight minute long journey are simply, utterly unique, and - as a complete surprise - un-pretentious, totally. The film lags here and there, but the climax is simply shattering, which is a big change from the rest of the film. Angelopolous, like Tarkovsky, really uses atmosphere and sound very well, and this is what saves this film. This will probably fall on deaf ears, but checking this film out will certainly benefit anyone interested.
On a side note, I really put a lot into my English on this one, so any kind of feedback on that would also be appreciated.
On a side note, I really put a lot into my English on this one, so any kind of feedback on that would also be appreciated.
