Though I haven't seen a lot of John Casavetes' work, apart from
that, this is one of the best modern (read: 1985-present) uses of
8mm film that I've ever seen. This is one of those films you just
have to throw yourself into. I'm not drawing a parallel between the
two--at all!--but people who have seen 'Neon Genesis Evangelion'
will recall how by the end of the first episode you had no idea what
was going on, right alongside the principle character. This movie
has a similar feel--It's unsettling at first, but ultimately presents
itself as a curiously wonderful juxtaposition of warmth and
coldness; interrelation and alienation. Very few films are capable
of doing this well. Oh, and as a side note -- this is NOT one of
those aimlessly meandering art films hell-bent on using 8mm to
generate indie/underground credibility. In sum: a thoughtfully
rewarding film about two very different German brothers lost in
Japan and discovering a fine gray line dividing the point of no
return from the point just before it and overcoming that dualism.
that, this is one of the best modern (read: 1985-present) uses of
8mm film that I've ever seen. This is one of those films you just
have to throw yourself into. I'm not drawing a parallel between the
two--at all!--but people who have seen 'Neon Genesis Evangelion'
will recall how by the end of the first episode you had no idea what
was going on, right alongside the principle character. This movie
has a similar feel--It's unsettling at first, but ultimately presents
itself as a curiously wonderful juxtaposition of warmth and
coldness; interrelation and alienation. Very few films are capable
of doing this well. Oh, and as a side note -- this is NOT one of
those aimlessly meandering art films hell-bent on using 8mm to
generate indie/underground credibility. In sum: a thoughtfully
rewarding film about two very different German brothers lost in
Japan and discovering a fine gray line dividing the point of no
return from the point just before it and overcoming that dualism.