In the Highest of the Skies has a premise that Luis Bunuel could have made magic out of.
A diverse group of individuals are at the Vatician to meet the Pope. They get into a large freight elevator and press up. Minutes pass. Someone eventually mentions that they have all been in the elevator a long time. Still more minutes pass. The elevator display still clicks off floors ("There can't be that many floors"). Eventually, the passengers realize they are trapped in an elevator that is apparently moving constantly upward. Soon, tempers become short. First, a labor unionist, suffering from claustrophobia, becomes manic. A fellow passenger hits the unionist on the head killing him. Later, as everyone tries to sleep, a priest feels up a young girl, so he is tied up. Slowly, everyone in this holy party begin to turn on each other.
Unfortunately, Luis Bunuel did not make the film, which has little of Bunuel's humor. Instead, the filmmakers try to shock the viewer. Perhaps, if a viewer is strongly Catholic or unused to viewing strange films, but jaded viewers who have seen, say, Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom are going to wonder what the fuss is over. It is also clear that the characters are supposed to be archetypes (a stern mother superior, a lecherous priest, a communist, a journalist for a Catholic publication, etc.). Some of these types do not register as well for non-Italians living in the 21st Century.
Still, In the Highest of the Skies did hold my interest for its 80 some minutes, so I can't beat up on the film too harshly. However, if I get into a mood to re-watch a surrealist film about people seemingly supernaturally stranded in one location, it will be The Exterminating Angel.
A diverse group of individuals are at the Vatician to meet the Pope. They get into a large freight elevator and press up. Minutes pass. Someone eventually mentions that they have all been in the elevator a long time. Still more minutes pass. The elevator display still clicks off floors ("There can't be that many floors"). Eventually, the passengers realize they are trapped in an elevator that is apparently moving constantly upward. Soon, tempers become short. First, a labor unionist, suffering from claustrophobia, becomes manic. A fellow passenger hits the unionist on the head killing him. Later, as everyone tries to sleep, a priest feels up a young girl, so he is tied up. Slowly, everyone in this holy party begin to turn on each other.
Unfortunately, Luis Bunuel did not make the film, which has little of Bunuel's humor. Instead, the filmmakers try to shock the viewer. Perhaps, if a viewer is strongly Catholic or unused to viewing strange films, but jaded viewers who have seen, say, Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom are going to wonder what the fuss is over. It is also clear that the characters are supposed to be archetypes (a stern mother superior, a lecherous priest, a communist, a journalist for a Catholic publication, etc.). Some of these types do not register as well for non-Italians living in the 21st Century.
Still, In the Highest of the Skies did hold my interest for its 80 some minutes, so I can't beat up on the film too harshly. However, if I get into a mood to re-watch a surrealist film about people seemingly supernaturally stranded in one location, it will be The Exterminating Angel.
