I thought the concept of the film was interesting, and certainly evokes many ideas and topics of conversation. The thought that perception and reality do not necessarily align is a gateway to thousands of questions, thus this film left many things unanswered and open to the interpretation on the individual. This tactic was very useful in blurring the line of perception and reality, yet in doing so, the story line was choppy and harder to connect with in certain parts.
One of the main aspects of the film that stuck out to me the most was the brief role of the two young girls. Their sudden appearance breaks up the main storyline of the film, and initially left me confused and upset that Thomas’ detective work was being interrupted. It wasn’t until his flat was broken into and the photos were stolen that I realized what was really happening in his interaction with them. The appearance of the young girls marks a large shift in the film’s direction, when all the clues come to a halt and the main character reverts back into his original state. Not only does this scene change the direction of the story, it is full of a lot of symbolism regarding the current and possible future situation for Thomas.
The most obvious of these symbolic moments was the very bizarre moment of tearing down the backdrop in the studio. Typically, backdrops serve as a means of controlling lighting, emphasizing certain colors, manipulating depth of field and preventing any scenery from taking away from the main focus of a photograph. When this happens in the movie Thomas doesn’t get mad, he laughs and joins in. The tearing of the backdrop could possibly be seen as his surrender of control, and his realization that not all situations can be manipulated in a studio under his direction, and that the real world is quite different outside of the shelter he had created for himself. The foundation or point of reference of his life is shifting and rather than turning away, he joins in. I took this as a representation of his realization of a world outside his camera, and his dark room, and overall area of comfort.
I can certainly understand his perception being defined through his camera lens, and am guilty of doing the same. In fact, one of the aspects that attract me most to photography is that it allows you to show others the way in which you perceived and interpreted something, and it allows them to reflect on their perception, and dialogue about the differences. The great thing about photographs is that the photographer can set a mood or send a message through an image without ever saying a word, creating an unspoken connection. It fascinates me that hundreds of people can take hundreds of different images of the same object, and on the other hand those same people will derive hundreds of different messages from one single image. Although this is a great form of expression and an exciting art form, it can also lead to misunderstanding and illusion, as we see in the film.
Overall Thomas struggles with his role as a photographer, and his role in society throughout the film. I believe that he purposefully did not take this camera to the park the first time after the shooting because he was still in denial about it and was afraid that taking a picture would make it real. This would then lead to questions of morality and responsibility, which is far from the fantasy world that can be created in a dark room. When he loses the images and reality is questioned in his own mind, and this connection that he had with something outside himself is taken. He is then very eager to take a picture, and to later show his friend the body, to ensure that what he felt in those moments racing back and forth to the dark room was real, because he is no longer sure that the events actually took place. The film maker purposefully does not conclude the story in order to leave the fate of the photographer in the audience’s hands. To me, the fact that Thomas disappears in the last second suggests that the filmmaker wanted viewers to question their possible illusions in perception and motives of escape from the “real world” in order to overcome them and find actual truth and reality.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Elise: Blow Up
A common theme throughout "Blow Up" was disappearing objects, and a questioning of reality. It began with the actual photos disappearing, then the woman, then the body. Even when he had the photographs, however, the strangeness of the situation caused the photographer to question the reality of its occurrence. He did not have much purpose or seriousness in his life, which many of the seemingly random scenes in the movie highlighted. (For instance, his search for "landscapes" and final purchase of the propeller in an antique store, and his little incident with the two girls who wanted to be photographed.) His only encounter with something of substance was the story behind the photographs, and his life seems to exhibit a change when he realizes the gravity of the situation he witnessed. The photos are pretty blurry since they've been blown up so much, so he returns to the site to confirm what he thinks his camera witnessed. He finds the dead man, and yet when he gets home he still seems to be in partial disbelief so he tries to share the uncanny events with his "friends" for further confirmation. Everyone is too stoned to be able to grasp the situation, however, so he is left alone. Did it all really happen? Is he just making it up?
This theme is culminated in the very last scene. The photographer has returned to the park, where the dead body is no longer there. Instead, a van of mimes pull up and begin to play tennis on a tennis court. It is all make-believe, however, and there are no balls or rackets. The two tennis players act with all seriousness, and even the crowd around the court stands in rapt attention, doing a good job I thought of joining in the act. It was entertaining and seemed very "real." This scene, however, could be playing out the photographer's fear of the reality of his situation. He is witnessing a whole group of people living out an illusion together. They are pretending and acting as if it is a reality, but it's not. And finally, at the very end of the film, he's given the choice to join in on their false reality, and pick up the tennis ball that is hit over the net. He joins in and is left yet again with questioning reality. Has he just been acting out an illusion too?
This theme is culminated in the very last scene. The photographer has returned to the park, where the dead body is no longer there. Instead, a van of mimes pull up and begin to play tennis on a tennis court. It is all make-believe, however, and there are no balls or rackets. The two tennis players act with all seriousness, and even the crowd around the court stands in rapt attention, doing a good job I thought of joining in the act. It was entertaining and seemed very "real." This scene, however, could be playing out the photographer's fear of the reality of his situation. He is witnessing a whole group of people living out an illusion together. They are pretending and acting as if it is a reality, but it's not. And finally, at the very end of the film, he's given the choice to join in on their false reality, and pick up the tennis ball that is hit over the net. He joins in and is left yet again with questioning reality. Has he just been acting out an illusion too?
Friday, September 19, 2008
First film response: Amanda
I really enjoyed “The Empties,” the first film we watched in class, and was very excited about it being a Czech film that took place in Prague. I thought the humor used in the film was most notable and very accurate to the feeling of the Czech people. The way in which the movie is filmed allows for the story to be relatable to all, and for everyone to feel empathy for the main character, even though he has so many flaws. The main character, was very likeable and immediately drew you into the story of his life. At first when he quits and starts taking other jobs it just seems as though he is fighting his age, specifically in becoming a bicycle messenger, but then we quickly learn that it is far beyond this reason and is affecting every aspect of his life.
He has such a huge disconnection between his home and work life, and he seems to identify himself as a worker more than someone who works. He values the title of ‘bread winner’ above that of, ‘husband’ and does not see the overlap in the two roles. He not only keeps things from his wife, he acts incredibly different at home than he does in the workplace. When he takes a job at the grocery store he is very friendly, plays match-maker, and asks everyone about their day, yet when he comes home he seems to turn off that part of his personality. He takes his job very seriously, being the man that provides for conversation and connection with strangers, but ignores his own wife.
He had no problem constantly fantasizing about other women and even taking serious steps toward cheating on his wife, while she expressed her despair to him at night about his distance and loss of attraction to her. It seems that in the past this is something that has brought a lot of tension in their marriage, and yet he continually brushes her concern off, and focuses on his independence rather than their life together. It seems that he is unable to see past his fear of losing his individuality in the world, to see how great of an impact he truly has. It wasn’t until his ability to control everything around him is challenged, in the form of his wife’s German student, that he finally realizes the effects of his choice to compartmentalize his life.
One of the most interesting things I found about the film was large use of symbols. His initial job is a teacher, and he quits when he can’t stand how much his life is turning a new direction, and he feels as though he can’t get his own life together, let alone teach others. Throughout the story, Josef tried to fill his life with roles and concepts instead of actual meaning, which is why the metaphor of the empty bottles plays such a large role. The introduction of the bottle machine in the grocery store serves as a symbol of his complete loss of control, and his realization that he is being replaced in the workplace, and that he could be replaced in his marriage.
In The final shots of the movie, the imagery of the balloon ride was wonderful and a great way to culminate all that the story was trying to express. I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to convey not only the freedom, but the trust and work that is necessary for a relationship to work. When they landed holding onto each other, it was an incredibly romantic and wonderful way to illustrate the necessity for connection and quality relationships in order to have a meaningful life, and that in the end, this is the only thing that will remain constant in a constantly changing world.
>>I don't think I was too harsh in judging Josef's actions throughout the movie, though others may disagree... Either way I feel I need to continue the trend of quoting of rappers that are clearly very applicable to our discussion.. maybe Josef listened to some Biggie before he went to meet his mistress?: "I love it when you call me big poppa, throw your hands in the air if yous a true player" easst coasssst!
He has such a huge disconnection between his home and work life, and he seems to identify himself as a worker more than someone who works. He values the title of ‘bread winner’ above that of, ‘husband’ and does not see the overlap in the two roles. He not only keeps things from his wife, he acts incredibly different at home than he does in the workplace. When he takes a job at the grocery store he is very friendly, plays match-maker, and asks everyone about their day, yet when he comes home he seems to turn off that part of his personality. He takes his job very seriously, being the man that provides for conversation and connection with strangers, but ignores his own wife.
He had no problem constantly fantasizing about other women and even taking serious steps toward cheating on his wife, while she expressed her despair to him at night about his distance and loss of attraction to her. It seems that in the past this is something that has brought a lot of tension in their marriage, and yet he continually brushes her concern off, and focuses on his independence rather than their life together. It seems that he is unable to see past his fear of losing his individuality in the world, to see how great of an impact he truly has. It wasn’t until his ability to control everything around him is challenged, in the form of his wife’s German student, that he finally realizes the effects of his choice to compartmentalize his life.
One of the most interesting things I found about the film was large use of symbols. His initial job is a teacher, and he quits when he can’t stand how much his life is turning a new direction, and he feels as though he can’t get his own life together, let alone teach others. Throughout the story, Josef tried to fill his life with roles and concepts instead of actual meaning, which is why the metaphor of the empty bottles plays such a large role. The introduction of the bottle machine in the grocery store serves as a symbol of his complete loss of control, and his realization that he is being replaced in the workplace, and that he could be replaced in his marriage.
In The final shots of the movie, the imagery of the balloon ride was wonderful and a great way to culminate all that the story was trying to express. I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to convey not only the freedom, but the trust and work that is necessary for a relationship to work. When they landed holding onto each other, it was an incredibly romantic and wonderful way to illustrate the necessity for connection and quality relationships in order to have a meaningful life, and that in the end, this is the only thing that will remain constant in a constantly changing world.
>>I don't think I was too harsh in judging Josef's actions throughout the movie, though others may disagree... Either way I feel I need to continue the trend of quoting of rappers that are clearly very applicable to our discussion.. maybe Josef listened to some Biggie before he went to meet his mistress?: "I love it when you call me big poppa, throw your hands in the air if yous a true player" easst coasssst!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
amy- czech film: relationships
How do we handle relationships?
After reading a little more of Martin Buber's I-Thou, there are several new ways to interpret the first Czech film watched in class. My eyes first saw the film from the perspective of the human experience. Part of me felt sorry for the older man's constant searching for some type of validation. Another part of me was annoyed with his flaws. In this way, the film really displayed the inner dichotomy of humanity in general. We all can sympathize with the trials of the human experience, but at the same time recognize the glaring flaws in ourselves and one another.
A prime example was the lostness within the protagonist's life. He desperately was searching for some sort of validation and meaning in his life. He was a man with simple desires that seemed to elude him every time he got close to his goal. All of his jobs failed him: teaching, delivery, and even the perfect satisfaction of the bottle window. As humans, we relate to the frustration that comes with our chasings after joy. Yet, we can still look at the protagonist and be disgusted with his blatantly selfish pursuits. Whether it be with his reckless sexual desires, which ties into disloyalty, or the outward lack of compassion towards the plight of his wife and daguhter, the protagonist is a mix of good intentions done in the wrong manner.
After reading a bit o' Buber, I started to be aware, in a very academic sense, how the I-It and I-Thou relationships deal with the perspective. I took this idea and thought over the movie. The trouble in the protagonist's family life was due to the fact that somehow that area of his life had turned into a bunch of "I-Its." The wife and daughter are just objects to be settled by some equation. The wife can be assuaged by giving a kiss every morning and evening, and the daughter needs to let go of any hurt and just move on. Deep down he may have loved his family, but it seems to me that he has forgotten. Until the end of the movie, he never truly relates to them.
On the other side, I find it very curious that he was finding all his I-Thou relationships outside of the people who were supposedly closest to him. The random older lady that he goes out of his way to help, the men at work, and at one point even his daughter's cheating husband! The protagonist does not truly want to love. At the heart of "I-Thou" relationships are the hard times where one reaches the end of his rope and holds on to the knot at the end with fingertips. It's not an easy task to love fully and the protagonist looks like he almost completely give up until the hot-air balloon. This is where he is able to restore that I-Thou relationship with his wife.
Like the hot air balloon sinking, the relationship with his wife was drowning until they mutually reestablish their I-Thou dynamic. This is essentially the fire being relit and lifting the balloon from the lake.
After reading a little more of Martin Buber's I-Thou, there are several new ways to interpret the first Czech film watched in class. My eyes first saw the film from the perspective of the human experience. Part of me felt sorry for the older man's constant searching for some type of validation. Another part of me was annoyed with his flaws. In this way, the film really displayed the inner dichotomy of humanity in general. We all can sympathize with the trials of the human experience, but at the same time recognize the glaring flaws in ourselves and one another.
A prime example was the lostness within the protagonist's life. He desperately was searching for some sort of validation and meaning in his life. He was a man with simple desires that seemed to elude him every time he got close to his goal. All of his jobs failed him: teaching, delivery, and even the perfect satisfaction of the bottle window. As humans, we relate to the frustration that comes with our chasings after joy. Yet, we can still look at the protagonist and be disgusted with his blatantly selfish pursuits. Whether it be with his reckless sexual desires, which ties into disloyalty, or the outward lack of compassion towards the plight of his wife and daguhter, the protagonist is a mix of good intentions done in the wrong manner.
After reading a bit o' Buber, I started to be aware, in a very academic sense, how the I-It and I-Thou relationships deal with the perspective. I took this idea and thought over the movie. The trouble in the protagonist's family life was due to the fact that somehow that area of his life had turned into a bunch of "I-Its." The wife and daughter are just objects to be settled by some equation. The wife can be assuaged by giving a kiss every morning and evening, and the daughter needs to let go of any hurt and just move on. Deep down he may have loved his family, but it seems to me that he has forgotten. Until the end of the movie, he never truly relates to them.
On the other side, I find it very curious that he was finding all his I-Thou relationships outside of the people who were supposedly closest to him. The random older lady that he goes out of his way to help, the men at work, and at one point even his daughter's cheating husband! The protagonist does not truly want to love. At the heart of "I-Thou" relationships are the hard times where one reaches the end of his rope and holds on to the knot at the end with fingertips. It's not an easy task to love fully and the protagonist looks like he almost completely give up until the hot-air balloon. This is where he is able to restore that I-Thou relationship with his wife.
Like the hot air balloon sinking, the relationship with his wife was drowning until they mutually reestablish their I-Thou dynamic. This is essentially the fire being relit and lifting the balloon from the lake.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Czech Film - Changes - Andrew
Even though the Czech film that we watched focused its attention on the changes that take place late in life, I found that the many of the conflicts and struggles that took place could easily be applied to many of the other life transitions that fill the human experience, especially in the modern world. The Older Man's (lets call him Edward) struggle with work and his wife are not merely due to his flaws and weak moral fiber, instead they reflected a deep inward longing that was left dissatisfied by the life of retiree. Rather than wait out his final days and fearfully submit before the looming threat of death, Edward sought to recover real passion and the vitality of a younger man. Societies expectation is for the elderly to whittle away their days with books, soap operas, and bingo while occasionally allowing for the quintessential exercise activity of grizzled old men and women, walking in the park. Edward's wife (lets call her Theodora) only exacerbating the problem by assuming that Edward would settle down in his old age. Even after 40 years of marriage she greatly underestimated his needs and desires. I'm just saying, even the guy she fell in love with was incredibly dull.
We first saw Edward's struggles in the classroom. He was surrounded by youth who were not only disrespectful to him but also to the books that he had treasured his entire life. People can only passively tolerate the ridicule of their most treasured possessions for so long. What does a teacher become when his wisdom means nothing for his pupils? Edward felt that he was passing more and more into obscurity and uselessness.
The second example is from Edward's attempts to become a bike messenger (before coming to CNU I wanted to move to Chicago and get a job as a courier, so I personally understand this longing - for an awesome and entertaining read pick-up "The Immortal Class: Bike Messengers and the Cult of Human Power" - sorry, I digress) The allure of being a messanger is that it is one of the last rebel societies that still exists inside the world of capitalism. The messanger is essential to the machinations of all kinds of business but at the same time it is wholly seperate from them. Edward knew the intricacies of navigating through Prague - even if he had some communication problems with the dispatchers - and he had the necessary audacity to pedal through the weather side-by-side with cagers and tourists. In the end the problem was that his aged body and mind was unable to handle the job even when his will was entirely behind it.
Initially the job at the potraviny seemed to be a major let down, but the more I've thought about it the more it meshes with everything else. At the recycling center Edward was an essential part of people's lives and they not only appreciated and trusted him, they also engaged with him and made him a integral part of their daily life. Edward was able to realize that in this job people didn't see him as an old and easily ignorable man. The tragedy is that business cares very little for unprofitable sentimentality.
The last example I'll go into is Edwards rather scandalous dreams. In these sequences he entered into a world that was exciting and forbidden.
The final scene and the reconciliation between Edward and Theodora was tied to this theme of transition and rediscovery. For the two to come together it took Theodora choosing to go on this crazy experience with her husband, while Edward had to learn how to give up his striving for meaning and let it come to him naturally.
These were all themes and ideas that I could easily relate to, and I'd be curious to see if anyone feels the same way. I also felt the need to partially defend Edward against the soon to be coming onslaught of the female coalition.
If you read this whole thing, I applaud you.
In the immortal words of Tupac Amaru Shakur - "I got love for my brothers but we can never go nowhere unless we share with each other"
We first saw Edward's struggles in the classroom. He was surrounded by youth who were not only disrespectful to him but also to the books that he had treasured his entire life. People can only passively tolerate the ridicule of their most treasured possessions for so long. What does a teacher become when his wisdom means nothing for his pupils? Edward felt that he was passing more and more into obscurity and uselessness.
The second example is from Edward's attempts to become a bike messenger (before coming to CNU I wanted to move to Chicago and get a job as a courier, so I personally understand this longing - for an awesome and entertaining read pick-up "The Immortal Class: Bike Messengers and the Cult of Human Power" - sorry, I digress) The allure of being a messanger is that it is one of the last rebel societies that still exists inside the world of capitalism. The messanger is essential to the machinations of all kinds of business but at the same time it is wholly seperate from them. Edward knew the intricacies of navigating through Prague - even if he had some communication problems with the dispatchers - and he had the necessary audacity to pedal through the weather side-by-side with cagers and tourists. In the end the problem was that his aged body and mind was unable to handle the job even when his will was entirely behind it.
Initially the job at the potraviny seemed to be a major let down, but the more I've thought about it the more it meshes with everything else. At the recycling center Edward was an essential part of people's lives and they not only appreciated and trusted him, they also engaged with him and made him a integral part of their daily life. Edward was able to realize that in this job people didn't see him as an old and easily ignorable man. The tragedy is that business cares very little for unprofitable sentimentality.
The last example I'll go into is Edwards rather scandalous dreams. In these sequences he entered into a world that was exciting and forbidden.
The final scene and the reconciliation between Edward and Theodora was tied to this theme of transition and rediscovery. For the two to come together it took Theodora choosing to go on this crazy experience with her husband, while Edward had to learn how to give up his striving for meaning and let it come to him naturally.
These were all themes and ideas that I could easily relate to, and I'd be curious to see if anyone feels the same way. I also felt the need to partially defend Edward against the soon to be coming onslaught of the female coalition.
If you read this whole thing, I applaud you.
In the immortal words of Tupac Amaru Shakur - "I got love for my brothers but we can never go nowhere unless we share with each other"
Monday, September 15, 2008
Elise: First Czech Movie
The main character in our film obviously did not have a good relationship with his wife. Their conversations were lacking, and he in particular didn't put forth effort into improving their relationship. The thing that caught my attention throughout the film, however, was that he was a very amiable and outgoing man to everyone else. He was very romantic and flirtatious with the other school teachers, and kind and thoughtful to the older woman at the store. He took time to care for his daughter, and was very sweet and playful with his grandson. He put forth effort to meet with others in the film, and even bought flowers and wine for his teacher friend. So although he didn't give attention or energy to his wife, you knew he was capable of being romantic and thoughtful. I think his good-humored nature was actually stressed in the film, so they contrast between his life outside and inside the home was obvious.
The movie begins with him quitting his teaching job, which he really didn't enjoy. He then begins a search for better things... for new stimulation in his life. He tries different jobs, and even attempts to try a different woman. (It amazed me how he could see the devastation his son-in-law caused his daughter by cheating on her and then leaving, but still try to do the same thing to his wife. And not only that, but he welcomed his son-in-law and treated the situation lightly!) What the movie shows is that people are essentially different than things... as are the I-Thou and I-It relationships. Developing relationships with people is different than investing in a career. The main character wasn't satisfied with his life, and thought that changing both the "things" and the people in his life would help. But he couldn't change the people in his life like he could change his job. Thou is not able to be manipulated like It. And in the end, his wife didn't need to be changed. Their relationship was not beyond mending, he just needed to remember their past and be confronted with her dancing with another man... yeah. Maybe he realized that she was not an It that he could control and that would stay stagnant. She was a moving person herself and he couldn't just do as he pleased while expecting her to stay the same. So in a way, he had grown to view his wife as an "It" and not until he began to see her as a "Thou" like the other people he interacted with did things change. (Keeping in mind that to a degree, none of his relationships were Thou at all...)
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Trains, Plains and Automobiles By Garrett Lambur
Garrett Lambur
September 14, 2008
The many different types of transportation within the film could each represent a different journey in our life. If life was one consistent journey things could become quite mundane. Rather our life is filled with many different periods such as that of a teenager or a college student. Each of these periods is not stagnant but rather is filled with personal growth that eventually roles into the next section of our life. Each movement from one period to the next is similar to changing modes of transportation or say changing trains.
As they experienced trouble during the balloon ride in the movie, people will experience trouble with any period in life. Scrambling for the lighter to relight the flame in the balloon is an extreme example of what can go wrong in different points of your life. Cars can crash and lives can end. Transportation is almost never an easy thing when traversing great distances and most people will experience trouble in their lives. But traveling brings people together, whether they are traveling together or traveling to see each other. Listening to Crash by Dave Matthews it becomes clearer to me. The song contains lyrics "Crash into me," and perhaps that is exactly what happened with the Balloon. The main characters were apart and struggling before the extravaganza in the Balloon that brought them back together. It was not an easy journey with the Balloon but at the end of the journey, the crashed into each other, bringing them back together.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Kip Introduction
Write something about our first film in this site. Write something related to our class discussion or further insight you have.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
