Several reviewers mention Shakespeare... but what I thought back to, while watching this mesmerizing film was Dylan Thomas. Sally Potter is really his heir.
I missed this film in the theater because a friend who saw it didn't know what to make of the poetry, and was put off by it. The idea of such a film is audacious, but I was afraid it would terribly difficult to pull off, and likely come off like some kind of stunt. I was SO wrong. I had completely forgotten about the film by the time I pulled the DVD off the video store shelf.
Within the first few minutes I was totally focused and delighted. Occasionally I had trouble understanding the accents, but that got easier as the film went along. If it was only a stunt, then it would still be little more than just that, but Sally Potter has something strong and beautiful to say, and the two leads (along with the wonderful Shirley Henderson as the chorus) illuminate Potter's words before our eyes. This is strong stuff, the stuff of life. Watch it with your eyes, your ears and your mind.
I missed this film in the theater because a friend who saw it didn't know what to make of the poetry, and was put off by it. The idea of such a film is audacious, but I was afraid it would terribly difficult to pull off, and likely come off like some kind of stunt. I was SO wrong. I had completely forgotten about the film by the time I pulled the DVD off the video store shelf.
Within the first few minutes I was totally focused and delighted. Occasionally I had trouble understanding the accents, but that got easier as the film went along. If it was only a stunt, then it would still be little more than just that, but Sally Potter has something strong and beautiful to say, and the two leads (along with the wonderful Shirley Henderson as the chorus) illuminate Potter's words before our eyes. This is strong stuff, the stuff of life. Watch it with your eyes, your ears and your mind.