I finally got the courage and the incentive I needed to get back here and to start writing about some of the movies that somehow left their mark on me. Since January 2008 I've watched over sixty five (65) movies, so it's a bit challenging to chose *the* one that will iniciate what I hope will became a tradition in this blog. So, enough with the drama, and let's go straight to my review on one of the most controversial films ever made:
IL PORTIERE DI NOTTE (1974) - ****
This amazing movie by italian director Liliana Cavani, brings the story of Maximiliam Theo Aldorfer (Dick Bogarde), a former Nazi SS officer, now working as a night porter at a Vienna hotel, who encounters Lucia Atherton, a concentration camp survivor (Charlotte Rampling).
(minor spoiler warning)
It's been thirteen years since WWII when the two meet again at the Hotel, and right at the beggining of the movie we get a glimpse of how good this is going to be based on the looks exchanged between the two leads. There's so much depth and confusion in their eyes that we know that whatever journey they're gonna follow it's not going to be an easy one. From their meeting on, the audience, is presented with flashbacks of a time when they were both trapped in a situation which would originate their sadomasoquistic relashionship. No need to say that this envolvement between tormentor/tormented in the Holocaust is still the main reason for its controversity. Nonetheless this movie was way ahead of its time, breaking new boundaries for acknowledging sexual transgression in cinema, and that in itself is reason enough for applause.
The film depicts their psychological torments, along with their transformed lives. I believe the movie makes it quite clear that after everything they went through they were changed forever. And I'm not talking only of the main two characters, but also of the ones involved in any way, from Maximiliam's former SS comrades to Lucia's husband, they are all changed and reshaped by a post-war Europe.
Both Bogarde and Rampling give away amazing touching perfomances, with a highlight for the scene where a half-naked Lucia, wearing an SScap, perfoms a Marlene Dietrich song in front of the whole troop. According to Rampling this was the first scene they filmed for the movie. Maybe Cavani was trying to set the tone for the movie, and I guess she was right, for it is one powerful scene. One that would later be emulated by Madonna on her Justify My Love video, as well as for many s&m performers.
After all being said I give this movie my highest praises for its visionary character, its courage, and its extreme sensibility to deal with such controversial matters. The movie esthetics is also tuned to its theme, painting a subtle shady Europe trying to restore its dignity. I hope you enjoyed this post and feel curious enough to track this movie down and watch it with an open mind, for I am sure you've never seen anything quite like it, and we're talking 1974 here!
IL PORTIERE DI NOTTE (1974) - ****
This amazing movie by italian director Liliana Cavani, brings the story of Maximiliam Theo Aldorfer (Dick Bogarde), a former Nazi SS officer, now working as a night porter at a Vienna hotel, who encounters Lucia Atherton, a concentration camp survivor (Charlotte Rampling).
(minor spoiler warning)
It's been thirteen years since WWII when the two meet again at the Hotel, and right at the beggining of the movie we get a glimpse of how good this is going to be based on the looks exchanged between the two leads. There's so much depth and confusion in their eyes that we know that whatever journey they're gonna follow it's not going to be an easy one. From their meeting on, the audience, is presented with flashbacks of a time when they were both trapped in a situation which would originate their sadomasoquistic relashionship. No need to say that this envolvement between tormentor/tormented in the Holocaust is still the main reason for its controversity. Nonetheless this movie was way ahead of its time, breaking new boundaries for acknowledging sexual transgression in cinema, and that in itself is reason enough for applause.
The film depicts their psychological torments, along with their transformed lives. I believe the movie makes it quite clear that after everything they went through they were changed forever. And I'm not talking only of the main two characters, but also of the ones involved in any way, from Maximiliam's former SS comrades to Lucia's husband, they are all changed and reshaped by a post-war Europe.
Both Bogarde and Rampling give away amazing touching perfomances, with a highlight for the scene where a half-naked Lucia, wearing an SScap, perfoms a Marlene Dietrich song in front of the whole troop. According to Rampling this was the first scene they filmed for the movie. Maybe Cavani was trying to set the tone for the movie, and I guess she was right, for it is one powerful scene. One that would later be emulated by Madonna on her Justify My Love video, as well as for many s&m performers.
After all being said I give this movie my highest praises for its visionary character, its courage, and its extreme sensibility to deal with such controversial matters. The movie esthetics is also tuned to its theme, painting a subtle shady Europe trying to restore its dignity. I hope you enjoyed this post and feel curious enough to track this movie down and watch it with an open mind, for I am sure you've never seen anything quite like it, and we're talking 1974 here!
And... that's a wrap!
2 comments:
eu quero ver esse filme!! ele me parece bem interessante (lê-se: cenas de sexo!!)
Gostei muito do primeiro post. Agora é só manter um ritmo.
Boa sorte nas novas resenhas. rs.
;**
Post a Comment