KRZYSZTOF ZANUSSI AND THE CRISIS OF FAITH

THIS IS MY COMMENT IN GIRISH SHAMBU’S BLOG:
http://www.girishshambu.com/blog/2007/08/bergman.html

My most favorite Bergman’s film is THE SILENCE (1963). The reason is just because it portrays a universe to which my emotions belong, or it is this film which best conveys my feelings. I also love THE HOURS AND TIMES (1991, Christopher Munch), which refers to THE SILENCE.

Jesse, I don’t know if you are interested in films about the crisis of faith or not. But if you are interested in this theme, I strongly recommend you watch some films by Krzysztof Zanussi, particularly IMPERATIVE (1982), LIFE IS A FATAL SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE (2000), and THE SUPPLEMENT (2002). I guess THE DEATH OF A PROVINCIAL (1966, Zanussi) might also concerns some questions about faith, but I haven’t had a chance to watch it yet. Zanussi’s films are very hard to find in Bangkok. However, I think Zanussi’s films are as thought-provoking as Bergman’s films, though less emotional than Bergman’s.

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For interesting comments on Ingmar Bergman, you can read:

1.Jonathan Rosenbaum
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/04/opinion/04jrosenbaum.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin

2.Memories of the Future
http://memoriesofthefuture.wordpress.com/2007/08/03/finding-the-words-to-say-goodbye/

3.Elusive Lucidity
http://elusivelucidity.blogspot.com/2007/08/landmarks-in-history-of-taste.html



I myself can’t write anything meaningful.

INGMAR BERGMAN (14 July 1918 – 30 July 2007)

BERGMAN’S FILMS IN MY PREFERENTIAL ORDER

1.THE SILENCE (1963, A++++++++++)

2.PERSONA (1966, A+)

3.CRIES AND WHISPERS (1972, A+)

4.THE SEVENTH SEAL (1957, A+)

5.THE VIRGIN SPRING (1960, A+)

6.WINTER LIGHT (1962, A+)

7.AUTUMN SONATA (1978, A)

8.THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY (1961, A)

9.FROM THE LIFE OF THE MARIONNETTES (1980, A)

10.AFTER THE REHEARSAL (1984, A-)

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MICHELANGELO ANTONIONI (29 Sep 1912 – 30 July 2007)

IN PREFERENTIAL ORDER

1.THE ECLIPSE (1962, A+)

2.LA NOTTE (1961, A+)

3.ZABRISKIE POINT (1970, A+)

4.BLOWUP (1966, A+)

5.IL GRIDO (1957, A+)

6.L’AVVENTURA (1960, A+)

7.BEYOND THE CLOUDS (1995, A+)

8.LE AMICHE (1955, A+/A)

9.THE PASSENGER (1975, A)

10.THE RED DESERT (1964, A)

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MICHEL SERRAULT (24 Jan 1928 – 29 July 2007)

In preferential order

1.BUFFET FROID (1979, Bertrand Blier, A+)

2.LES DIABOLIQUES (1955, Henri-Georges Clouzot, A+)

3.GARDE A VUE (1981, Claude Miller, A)

4.ARTEMISIA (1997, Agnes Merlet, A)

5.BEBERT AND THE TRAIN (1963, Yves Robert, A)

6.ASSASSIN(S) (1997, Mathieu Kassovitz, A)

7.BEAUMARCHAIS THE SCOUNDREL (1996, Edouard Molinaro, A-)

8.THE GIRL FROM PARIS (2001, Christian Carion, B+)

9.HAPPINESS IS IN THE FIELD (1995, Etienne Chatiliez, B+)

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ULRICH MUHE (20 June 1953 – 22 July 2007)

In preferential order

1.THE CASTLE (1997, Michael Haneke, A++++++++++)
For a review of the source novel by Franz Kafka, you can read Dechito’s here:
http://dechito.blogspot.com/2007/07/castle.html

2.THE LIVES OF OTHERS (2006, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, A+)

3.FUNNY GAMES (1997, Michael Haneke, A+)

4.BENNY’S VIDEO (1992, Michael Haneke, A+)

5.AMEN (2002, Costa-Gavras, A-)

6.NIKOLAIKIRCHE (1995, Frank Beyer, A-)

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This is a photo from CAMOUFLAGE (1977, Krzysztof Zanussi)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1190/1062304840_2e51d08f40_o.jpg