MovieChat Forums > Sans toit ni loi (1986) Discussion > If you want to live, you stop.

If you want to live, you stop.

posted 16 years ago by smilingsun
17 replies | jump to latest

I watched this movie when I was about 12
I watched it twice again in the last two years

I would agree, undoubtably has been a film that
will forever be imprinted in the memory of my mind.
A real tragedy touching deep, can come back in
years like waves, at least about my experience.

I can't hide the emotion in my eyes speaking about this movie,
about the work of Agnes Varda, Sandrine Bonnaire and all staff,
great job, I like the way they used her character to contact
who is watching the movie.

Everyone can give a different render of Mona.
Not being important if because of mental illness, if her life
philosophy, if seeking for independence and freedom, if in the
dumps, if bad decisions, if drugs and alcohol, inadequacy,
indipendency and whatever else..we don't blame Mona 'cos she
is a wanderer but as we can see, she doesn't respect herself,
she doesn't want or doesn't manage to regain her own way,
her own love. She loses herself.
We can go with Mona, walking along and into the cold fields of
France with her loneliness and while she goes on we would like
to see the wanderer winning the fight, the battle with herself
hoping she doesn't resolves to put herself in a corner, to
destroy herself.

[–] jkv1165 16 years ago

Just more pretentious arthouse crap.

[–] Aqueles 16 years ago

Did you just watch this film like I did on IFC?

[–] jkv1165 16 years ago

Yep. I like movies you have to think about....but this was awful.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Borowczyk76 16 years ago

Why was it awful? Saying it's pretentious crap doesn't exactly convince me that it actually is crap.

[–] greenbanzanas 14 years ago

I'd have to agree because I had just watched le bonheur, which I thought was kind of amazing, especially for 1965, so I watched Vagabond which came out 20 years later in 1985, and I couldn't help but wonder why an established director would choose to make such a project; maybe it's because I have understood for a while how there is little difference between me and the man/woman living on the street. You see, here, in America (collectively) we treat others as *beep* despite our pretensions. In fact, we pretty much hate the other. I know people won't like my generalization, but in life we have to make generalizations in order to live otherwise we would never be able to make a decision.

[–] clyons 11 years ago

A bit late to respond, but I'm going to anyway--to call this 'arthouse crap' is to ignore the fact it was a mainstream hit in Europe. It only played in arthouses in the U.S., sure. It's the most successful film Varda ever made.

I think the movie disturbed you on a level you didn't like, so you had to dismiss it.

[–] aliza_tvito 11 years ago

Excellent artwork, every second is valuable. Indeed Varda's best, although I like Cleo From 5 to 7 very much as well. But Vagabond is the pinnacle.

Listen to your enemy, for God is talking

[–] smilingsun 16 years ago

And I saw the movie on a video tape for the first time

[–] aliza_tvito 16 years ago

by jkv1165 (Sun May 4 2008 13:03:10)
Just more pretentious arthouse crap.
////////////////////////////////

Not at all. Just learn to think a bit while watching movies.

[–] Scottie_Burnham 16 years ago

I agree, this is a fantastic film. Why do people always call a film that has had an incredible degree of creative work put into it 'pretentious'?

But I don't care darling, because I love you, and you've got to let me eat your brains.

[–] aliza_tvito 16 years ago

It's mostly because of the Culture of Chewing Popcorn while watching movies. While jaws are at work, brain rests.

[–] lostintwinpeaks 15 years ago

I just had to reply and say brilliant comment hannah-yacob-1. I love it. Will be using that! ;)

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Kook_booger 15 years ago

People are entitled to their opinions, I think the standard rebuttal of "oh sorry... not enough explosions for you" does more harm than good and is not very constructive. Neither was the original comment that set it off, but you know, two wrongs and all that...
Its a nice film, gentle pace allows for analytical though or if you cant be bothered you can let the beautiful visuals carry you into the world. The shared views of the people spoke to me. I thought it was about being a part of society and what this means. All Mona did was take and you cant live like that forever.
Yeah thought it was nice.

If I cold be anyman, I'd be a peliman

[–] nan-ween 15 years ago

////I thought it was about being a part of society and what this means. All Mona did was take and you cant live like that forever.///

interesting comment. i couldn't help but notice how mona never thanked anyone who helped her or gave to her... she was ungrateful and actually quite lazy, but still a fascinating character. beautiful film.

[–] aliza_tvito 15 years ago

What was so "fascinating" about her?

I think this movie is all about the freedom, more exactly, about the freedom as a challenge, - which turned to be too hard for the people like Mona.

Thanks God, I'm an Atheist! - Luis Bunuel