If I ever get to teach a class in film, and I hope I do, I will fight to the death to show this controversial film. There is so much we can learn from it.
I bought this early 90's French film at the behest of my friend Paul when he was out here, and I totally forgot I did that until last week when I was cleaning up. SUCH A DISCOVERY! This is a fantastic dark comedy way ahead of its time. It's a mockumentary about a serial killer who invites a poor, rag-tag film team to accompany him on his killings. The lead actor (Benoit Poelvoorde) is a wondrous psychotic, intelligent and charming if not a little prejudiced. The film takes on a new level when the pretend film crew (who are played by the actual director and co-writers) not only tape the killings without turning the man in, but help him in the act. The vain killer even offers to help them finance the film with the money he steals from his victims. Thus, this becomes an absurdly genius take on media and violence. It's harsh at times, and was supposedly banned in some countries, but it's fictional and darkly comedic, so it's not to be taken completely seriously. Still, this has to be one of the most creative mockumentaries (and that's saying something) ever, and a great satire on modern media. I can't recommend it enough.
Directed by:
Rémy Belvaux
André Bonzel
Benoît Poelvoorde
(in trio)
Film reviews, criticism, discussions, rants, raves, and random pictures of Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The Orphanage
The Orphanage (La Orfanata) -
Dear American filmmakers who like to do horror,
your contributions to the genre recently have been lacking. It seems like many of you like to employ old tricks like sensory activation, i.e. you have everything quiet and then something jumps out with a bang. Some of you are busy ripping off Asian scare films that you don't quite understand, and thus leave with odd adaptations. A lot of you are busy doing torture porn, where you sit around and ask, "What's the last thing you'd ever want to do?" instead of thinking about plot or character. This is not good.
I'd like you to direct your attention to Spain, where The Orphanage was well-received a few years ago. Unlike your repetitive and annoying work, this film has feeling. It has a deep emotional story, of children who tease and children who are sick. It has a strong female lead who isn't just a simple good girl, but a complex and driven woman. It has some of the old tricks, but also a lot of the classic ones that rely on suspense and mood. You may want to pay attention to this and its producer, Guillermo Del Toro. It's better than anything anyone here has done in a long time.
Sincerely,
Leo
Dear American filmmakers who like to do horror,
your contributions to the genre recently have been lacking. It seems like many of you like to employ old tricks like sensory activation, i.e. you have everything quiet and then something jumps out with a bang. Some of you are busy ripping off Asian scare films that you don't quite understand, and thus leave with odd adaptations. A lot of you are busy doing torture porn, where you sit around and ask, "What's the last thing you'd ever want to do?" instead of thinking about plot or character. This is not good.
I'd like you to direct your attention to Spain, where The Orphanage was well-received a few years ago. Unlike your repetitive and annoying work, this film has feeling. It has a deep emotional story, of children who tease and children who are sick. It has a strong female lead who isn't just a simple good girl, but a complex and driven woman. It has some of the old tricks, but also a lot of the classic ones that rely on suspense and mood. You may want to pay attention to this and its producer, Guillermo Del Toro. It's better than anything anyone here has done in a long time.
Sincerely,
Leo
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