MovieChat Forums > Mindwalk (1991) Discussion > This is a movie

This is a movie

posted 18 years ago by jukka-salovaara
3 replies | jump to latest

And a pretty worthwhile one, too. Not a conventional one, which is why it's been blamed for not having character delineation and the usual merits of a good film.
True, it isn't fit to be watched like an ordinary film, but still, I found it tremendously interesting to watch. It's a bit like having a conversation for a good while. The plot outline is mostly just a slow walk around a featureless setting in bland weather.

As for the dialogue being biased, it's just a matter of which character you identify with, or which one you see as an antagonist to your own views. Many points made by the characters are scientific or philosophical, and they revolve much around the dichotomy of holism and reductionism, and whether they are mutually exclusive. The consensus will resemble the thesis of Fritjof Capra's "Tao of Physics", subject to debate for sure, but in my opinion no reason the get incredibly mad and start making aggressive remarks against anyone seeing this movie.

So, two things you should expect: an unusual form of film, and unusually profound topics that are discussed in a way that may not be intuitive to everyone. These will be a problem if you have a bad attention span, a narrow idea of film, and aggressive defenses against ideas. As for the philosophical claims of this movie, maybe there should be a specific thread about those here on IMDB.

My advice is to see this movie (if you can find it anywhere), perhaps when you're alone and hoping to spend some time quietly. As for the scientific side of it, it could spark some thought about the implications of some quite established findings of natural science. Nothing said in this movie if particularly new or revolutionary as such, but it's all discussed in a broader context, which may be uncomfortable to those preferring to seperate science and everyday conditions.

[–] commandamanda 18 years ago

Well said. I love this movie. LOVE IT. (Great casting, too.)

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Owlwise 13 years ago

I just watched this again last night, my 6th or 7th viewing over the years, and I have to say that it holds up quite well. Much of what it says is even more true today -- the destructive grip of corporate & military power; the continuing degradation of the environment; the increasing chasm between the ultra-rich & the rest of us; the insane pursuit of growth for a rapacious & materialistic lifestyle that's already unsustainable & getting worse each day; etc., etc., etc.

The characters are more allegorical or personality types than individuals, it's true -- but that suits the philosophical discussion format of the film, as does the supposedly "unnatural" dialogue. A lot of viewers today tend to forget that "realistic" dialogue is only one of many possibilities for dramatic purposes. Sometimes the content calls for an elevated or "artificial" style.

And in any case, the actors bring a certain amount of individuality to their roles, using the skilled actor's subtle repertoire of techniques.

It was an unusual film when it first appeared, certainly not for everyone -- and much less so today, when attention spans have indeed shortened even more, and intellectualism is generally a dirty word. For instance, there actually used to be some politicians as sensitive & thoughtful as Sam Waterston's Jack Edwards, believe it or not! Highly unlikely today, though.

I've been lucky enough to find myself having just this sort of lengthy, thoughtful discussion a few times in my life, and it's always been deeply rewarding. We need to be reminded that this is still possible for many of us -- even more, we need to realize just how vital such discussions are to our own well-being. The culture is getting more shallow & more toxic with each passing day. All the more necessity for a different vision of life!