What Movies Have You Watched Recently?

[fyodor]

This evening I saw Rashomon (1950)



Despite the stylized Japanese acting that is so different than what I'm used to, this was a far easier film to view than Veronique. Interesting that there is some similarity in their themes. Veronique with the two versions of the same person (one who dies for her dreams, and one who turns her back on her's but lives) and Rashomon with 4 versions of the same events but still with one person dying.

Hard not to like the film work in Rashomon. All that movement in the forest in black and white. Just the shot of the woodcutter when he is running in the forest and the camera goes from one side to the other as he passes made it worthwhile to watch.

Having started that Lost in Translation (not the movie) thread, something interesting came up in that regard. If you look at that thread you will find a link from Rothko to a CBC radio program on the problems with translation. At one point they are interviewing Larissa Volokhonsky and Richard Pevear. Larissa answers a question about having issues with the author or publisher and relates how one editor kept coming back and giving them a difficult time in regards to some of the English that could be taken out of context in a sexual manner. Anyhow late in Rashomon where the woodcutter is relating what he saw, the bandit is pleading with the girl, "I already had you, but I already want you more. It's very hard." I don't think I was supposed to laugh at that part - but I did.

Anyhow I really enjoyed Rashomon. Probably most of you have already seen it, but if not, give it a go. Makes you think about what's real and what's not. Can you believe things even if you see them?