tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-464853961321805907.post3356892778333379797..comments2023-08-01T05:07:24.186-05:00Comments on Truth 24 Frames per Second: Carax's "Merde"Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04823496467652553501noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-464853961321805907.post-89470888604320797172009-04-04T14:32:00.000-05:002009-04-04T14:32:00.000-05:00Well, it might be dis-ingenious to deny that I val...Well, it might be dis-ingenious to deny that I value any film simply because Carax's name is on it. As I tried to make clear, there is a certain relationship to his own life - or, at least a connection that I'm assuming - that elevates the film to a degree or two, although I think it works like gangbusters as a satirical/funny/angry short film about nationalism. But, correct me if I'm wrong - isn't teasing out meaning and connective threads between works the entire basis of auteurism? <BR/>I like the other two films just fine - impeccably crafted, heartfelt, what have you. I had been warned enough times not to expect much from the film that I was perhaps unprepared (or at least pleasantly surprised) at the level of competency at work. Slight? Maybe, but so were Frontier of Dawn and Two Lovers. Perhaps we might amend "slight" to something along the lines of "not self-aggrandizing". As you mention in your A Women in Berlin write up, we've just suffered through a mighty long season of films determined to teach us something while basking in their own perceived importance - maybe we need more films that are merely "slight" - wisps of films that might actually say something about the way that human beings think, feel, act and, you know, actually live (see also: Summer Hours - the supreme achievement (so far) of 2009).Danimalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-464853961321805907.post-32607400815723408602009-04-03T17:20:00.000-05:002009-04-03T17:20:00.000-05:00It somehow never occurred me, when I first watched...It somehow never occurred me, when I first watched TOKYO! last fall, that people were going to respond so rapturously to "Merde." Admittedly, I'm almost completely unfamiliar with Leo Carax's work. It's my understanding now that he's pretty well regarded in some cinebuff circles. Far be it from me to suggest that folks are attributing a little more worth to this anarchic short BECAUSE of his involvement in it, but it did strike me as not much more than inspired lunacy. (The ten minute gibberish convo was a hilarious highlight.) That having been said, you make a good case for it, particularly through your discussion of the film's ecstatic aesthetic gestures.<BR/><BR/>What did you think of TOKYO's other two chapters? My favorite was surely Gondry's, though at this point I've fallen so madly for his specific brand of madcap whimsy that everything he does (even a slight little sketch of dramedy like this) tends to cut straight to my heart.<BR/><BR/>Keep up the writing, buddy. Brevity suits you too, it would seem.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07162601905216182532noreply@blogger.com