MovieChat Forums > Rekopis znaleziony w Saragossie (1965) Discussion > Wheels within Wheels

Wheels within Wheels

posted 16 years ago by musicbymartin
7 replies | jump to latest

One of the most satisfying aspects of this film is the way in which each story or "thread" wind themselves up - sometimes two or more stories have a single resolution.

Especially in the second half of the film, we drop into the levels gradually and then very quickly move back up out of the narrative levels towards the films end.

Did anyone else notice, though, that the primary level (of the two opposing soldiers discovering and reading the manuscript during a battle) was never resolved - in other words, we leave the film still within this narrative. I wonder whether this was an intentional oversight or not . . . .

I've been in the group for years and I know, he always listens.

[–] jOKEC 16 years ago

I never saw this movie, but i've just finished reading the book and the book doesn't have an ending in the classical meaning of the word either... Actually in a weird kind of way, book was better because of that - it added another layer of mistery. Can't wait to see a movie.

[–] thatsmydesire 15 years ago

another level of mystery? or another level of misery?!

[–] PillowRock 15 years ago

I wonder whether this was an intentional oversight or not

Either something is intentional or it is an oversight; there's no such thing as an "intentional oversight".

The movie ends when the previous owner of the book leaves it in the tavern where those first two soldiers found it and started reading it.

[–] akozlowski-2 15 years ago

I sort of remember seeing this film way back in Poland, and (although the new DVD claims that it is the full version) I remember inserts of the two officers over the book while the fortunes of the two armies were changing back and forth, what was indicated in the background actions of soldiers chasing and then being chased.
My memory might have created this, but then again, if so, it is to the credit how great this film is.

[–] Eumenides_0 14 years ago

What I especially loved was the reflexive nature of the narrative, in which Alfonso discovers the book that is also the book the soldiers are reading. Without knowing, he's part of a story. Very post-modernist.

This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.

[–] nephihaha 14 years ago

I know it's a cliche, but it reminds me of a Russian doll.

[–] guely55 13 years ago

Or The arabian nights!