Wednesday 23 May 2018

15TH DOCS AGAINST GRAVITY FILM FESTIVAL 2018

DET RODE KAPEL (THE RED CHAPEL)

Watchable. I hate spastics used in movies in general and here it doesn't work either. The documentary reveals nothing about the country. The only piece of information new to me  was that the North blames Americans for starting the Korean war while in reality it was their own encroachment on the South. You learn stuff only from the Danish commentary which isn't substantiated in the film. All you really see is the buildings and interiors looking like 50 years ago and hapless North Koreans struggling to make the Danish guests' performance less ridiculous. Speaks volumes about the Danish film-maker, not North Koreans. 

A MODERN MAN

Watchable. About Charlie Siem - a world-renowned violin player and Armani model. He's timeless, representing monumental beauty and eternal music. He's perfectly professional, extremely focused, controlling each and every detail of his life and career since everything he's achieved has always been of his own doing. He lives like a prince - no friends, only servants and people he needs to manipulate when they call terms "unnegotiable". With his upper-class upbringing he wants to be in control. Everything has to be his way. He says he has no friends but he gets plenty of support from his family and colleagues. He's got plenty of people around him and irregular interactions with acquaintances. He puts no effort into relationships living in an emotional exile of his own choosing. He wants a flawless life and he's got it. An interesting insight into a very privileged life. Yet, the perfectionist seems just flat. He may appear lonely yet he isn't since he's strived for independence in his life. He has little connection to his inner emotions. He's put himself on display. A beautiful picture it is but with no substance. He mingles with the great - sits next to Dakota Johnson and Julianne Moore at a fashion show and his physiotherapist has got a 7-year-long queue. The latter fact isn't mentioned in the film, I heard it from the director later. The documentary is very good but feels one-dimensional just like the protagonist.

No comments: