The Trial of Joan of Arc by Robert Bresson tells the story of Joan of Arc during the final period of her captivity and her execution in 1430. As with all Breasson films, there is no back story to the lives of the characters, but in this case, one is not necessary. This story is […]
Author Archives: lisathatcher
The Eel: Dark, sweet, odd Japan.
posted by lisathatcher
The Eel is a 1997 Japanese film by Shôhei Imamura who also collaborated in the screenplayu that is loosely based on the novel On Parole by Akira Yoshimura. It won the Palme d’Or at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival. This is a film of contradictions. Dark and sunny. Funny and tragic. Deep and light. Sex and abstinence. Trust, betrayal, loyalty, friendship and […]
Woman of the Dunes: Existentialism at its disturbing best.
posted by lisathatcher
Something unnameable goes on between Hiroshi Teshigahara and Kōbō Abe. They produce the most remarkable films together. Of course, they are both extraordinary artists in their own right – perhaps it is the multiple disciplines that works in favour of their collaboration. Perhaps it is Abe’s sublime writing. Maybe it is Teshigahara’s sculpting that gives him such command over the […]
Los Olvidados: Bunuel introduces us to the real street urchins Dickens never knew.
posted by lisathatcher
After completing Gran Casino, Luis Buñuel began work on a screenplay with the Spanish poet Juan Larrea called Ilegible Hijo de Fluta (The Illegible Son of the Flute). Óscar Dancigers had a lot of trouble financing the project for them, so Buñuel agreed to direct a ‘popular’ film (aptly named The Great Madcap). Soiled by making such an “impossibly banal” film, Buñuel convinced Óscar […]
Closely Watched Trains: The Czech New Wave consistently ahead of its time.
posted by lisathatcher
Last night I watched the most glorious film. How can there be this much beauty in the world? Closely Watched Trains is a film I had been looking forward to watching for a long time and finally received in the post this week. The film did not let me down. Listed as one of the standouts of the Czech […]
A Rainbow in Curved Air: An overdubbed virtuoso.
posted by lisathatcher
A Rainbow in Curved Air is the third album by experimental music and classical minimalism pioneer Terry Riley. Through the use of overdubbing, the composer, a keyboard virtuoso, plays all the instruments on the title track: electric organ, electric harpsichord (Rock-Si-Chord), dumbec (or goblet drum), and tambourine. The work begins with a simple minimalist drone but quickly erupts in exciting rapid-fire figurations far removed from typical […]
Quartet for the End of Time: Mark Wilson sings his paint in verse.
posted by lisathatcher
”Good writers are those who keep the language efficient. That is to say, keep it accurate, keep it clear.” Ezra Pound The poet bruises so easily for he knows the secrets of Deconstruction Whilst erecting linguistic basilicas he simultaneously deregulates his muse with a bottle of shiraz or whiskey He envisions the body’s true incorruptibility […]
The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser: How do your smarts measure up?
posted by lisathatcher
The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser, originally titled Everyman for himself and God against them all (a much better title I think) is a film by Werner Herzog based on the real life story of Kaspar Hauser, a boy of seventeen who turns up in a village square in Nuremberg after having lived in a cellar […]
Lisa Thatcher 