Maybe it's my age - midlife. Perhaps it's my career - doctor. I've seen a lot of life and my share of death - and I usually dislike a film that is - how do I say it? Too thoughtful, I guess. Usually, when I see a film, I simply want to be entertained and carried away from real pain and suffering. I like comedies. I like action films.
BUT - I loved this film. It was brilliant. Someone in these boards says it's a poem - what a good analogy! This film is a brilliant work of art and the acting is superb. The directing, use of light, camera work, editing - and of course the script... all were brilliant. I had started watching it because I thought it would be an action film and got something quite different, instead. I loved it. Yes, it's poignant - but it's about a man who has seen some real pain that he had to carry with him since childhood and came to a point where he decided to do the right thing. He knew it would cost everything and decided it was worth it.
I really liked the fantasy village, Salsparello. I saw that as a misunderstanding of the English word, "sarsaparilla" or "sasparilla." Seemed like a word kids might relate to - it is a plant that was used in flavorings like root beer - and you can steep it in hot water and make a sweet tea. It was commonly done during my childhood in the American midwest. They talked about Americans - I wondered if that was what the writer was doing. Trying to create the sense of a homey, sweet, safe fantasy place the Americans had created. Just a thought - that word really struck me.
Anyway - the film was beautiful to me. And it's a genre I might normally not choose to see. I see enough suffering and I like a good escape when I watch a film. But this one? Brilliant and beautiful. I thought it was perfect.
You know what they say... no one with missing teeth wears an Armani suit.
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