MovieChat Forums > Wanda (1971) Discussion > Haunting Film

Haunting Film

posted 16 years ago by venusboys3
3 replies | jump to latest

I saw this by accident several years ago and have been trying find out what it was ever since (I started in late and never knew the name).

Reading the synopsis I realize that my memory of the film is pretty weak... only remembering the bits with Wanda and Mr. Dennis.

I notice a DVD for this recently came out so I'm hoping I get to see it again soon... it's a great film.

K

[–] mdonln 9 years ago

venusboys3 says > Reading the synopsis I realize that my memory of the film is pretty weak... only remembering the bits with Wanda and Mr. Dennis.

Wanda and Mr. Dennis made up the bulk of the movie so if their scenes are what you remember, along with the end, you got the gist of the entire movie.

I think this is an especially bleak and disturbing movie; then again, it's not meant to be happy and uplifting. I can't say I know anyone like Wanda personally (thank goodness) but we all 'know' plenty of people like her. I see them on news programs and movies all the time.

They seem to be looking for something everyone, except them, knows they'll never find. They don't really know what they're looking for so they end up looking in all the wrong places and associating with anyone who happens along whoever messed up and pathetic those people's lives happen to be.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]

[–] bnwfilmbuff 9 years ago

It's beyond haunting. It's absolutely frightening from the aspect of a woman who can't find her way in life. Doesn't want to be a mother, wife, can't hold a job. So she just drifts. With nowhere to go, she went nowhere. I was left with the thought of how difficult it is to get yourself back on track once your life has derailed. Depressing but engrossing, brilliant movie.

[–] traski 9 years ago

The more I watch this film, the better it gets. I guess that's true of most movies, but in this case, I came to appreciate this movie not only as a Scranton, Pa. time capsule, but as a study of bleakness and desperation of the title character.

It's a small masterpiece, well ahead of its time.