MovieChat Forums > Aaltra (2004) Discussion > A funny little short stretched uncomfort...

A funny little short stretched uncomfortably into a movie.

posted 19 years ago by MatthewMuntean
16 replies | jump to latest

They say that arty little foreign films are good because they make you think, whereas trashy American TV sitcoms are bad because you just sit in front of the TV and drool.

They being people with sophistication in the art of filmmaking.

Well, Aaltra was a funny little short but there was little to think of while watching it. And what you may have thought about probably was as advanced as the thoughts that flicked through your mind when walking to the cinema in the first place.

So that is a critique of the 'artsy' aspect of the film, and so I'd hope, removing whatever qualifications 'arty' and 'foriegn' bring to the table, the film itself would be enjoyable.

It was, but it was too long. Too much idling goes on in the film, idling I can do myself in real life without sitting in a darkened room.

Actually on the whole walking down the street is better then going to most of these sorts of films, and if you get into a conversation with someone interesting and have a couple laughs, well, you've probably amused yourself more thoroughly.

[–] killingentelletilti 19 years ago

Arty... I know what that is.

Foreign? That might be ... USAian, no?

[–] MatthewMuntean 19 years ago

Foreign means it was projected outside the country it was primarily produced in.

The fact that it had subtitles also gave it away.

Punk.

[–] killingentelletilti 19 years ago

A lot of foreign films seem to come from Hollywood, then. Thankyou.

[–] MatthewMuntean 19 years ago

So I take it Aaltra wasn't foreign for you. Ok.

Perhaps I should have said domestic movies excluding Hollywood films. I probably just confused myself as, when I entered the British cinema that shows almost exclusively subtitled films, that I was seeing something foreign. I forgot it was domestic for you.

But Hollywood isn't really located in the US anyways. Apart from the money, the writers, actors, directors, producers, location and set labor tends to spread itself all around the globe. Pinewood Studios in England, for instance, is quite busy working on Hollywood films at the moment.

And these days a lot of money is coming from Japan, for instance MGM has recently been purchased by Sony...

So yes, you're right, a lot of foriegn films are coming from 'Hollywood'.

[–] killingentelletilti 19 years ago

It was foreign for me, together with 90 percent of the movies I will ever see. For a lot of people in the world 'foreign' isn't really a category for sorting films, that's my whole point, sorry for over explaining, I know you got it the first time. Peace.

[–] MatthewMuntean 19 years ago

Yeah, I know, I was just trying to argue my way out of my USA'ism... although I think it may have been more of a English language-ism. or something.

[–] writestuff-1 19 years ago

"Foreign' considerations aside, your initial reaction was the right one. Even in its home country (Belgium), "Aaltra" was too long. Unusual, brave in a way. Just way too long.

M
http://www.screenplay-europe.com/

[–] tweeapen 18 years ago

It wasn't too long! That's only your opinion, I enjoyed every shot and loved every scene... The "Sonny" scene was hilarious, although is was a long scene, but certainly not too long...

I just enjoyed it and want to watch more of this kind of movies :)

[–] killingentelletilti 18 years ago

They could probably have cut some of the parts in the start, before they got their injuries, and probably where they were taking advantage of that family, but there should have been more from Finland. :)

--------------------
I don't like the pines

[–] writestuff-1 18 years ago

Perhaps. But in fact, I think the main problem comes from the fact that the camera lingers everywhere. It's more of an editing issue than the script. Road movies are supposed to move along, this one trails.

Having said that, it is still a fun, off-beat idea for a film. I'm looking forward to the next one.

M
http://www.screenplay-europe.com/

[–] carloshache 18 years ago

This movie is really good, but that doesn't mean that it's more sophisticated than American movies... It's comedy, not serious.

[–] Culturalcycle 17 years ago

There is nothing more serious than comedy.

"The ending of poverty and abuse is the beginning of civilization."

[–] yrussell 15 years ago

I don't think the long lingering scenes were the result of incompetent editing. It was there for PACING. For a road movie, having the right pace is extremely important. It things were edited too tightly, then it would feel like one, long, crazy, madcap, superfast race to Finland. That would have been the opposite of what the film makers intended.

Also... if you look closely at the scenes where "nothing" happens, you realise that there is in fact a LOT happening in these scenes. A man's idle words are interesting not for what he says, but for revealing his state of mind (e.g. the senile pensioner). The Flemish family's looks to each other indicate how they are getting annoyed with their guests... a long sit by the road to show what it felt like for our two heroes to wait and wait...

Far from being lazy, the editing is masterful. The fact that you're not used to this style of filmmaking doesn't mean it's bad.

YR

[–] malcolm-smith 9 years ago

If I could give an Upvote for your comment, I would.

What you wrote here was absolutely spot on. Thank you.

[–] doomgen_29 15 years ago

The men behind "Aaltra" are the same one behind "Groland" on french tv and more recently; "Louise Michel" movie theaters , so they are as french as they get, not Belgium. Believe me, i know.

[–] 15 years ago

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