The King was born in a manger sans the alluring cross

  Allures (1961) This trippy combination of sounds and images by Jordan Belson was preserved in the National Film Registry in 2011. Most people will never see it, and their lives will be no less fulfilling.     Sans Soleil (1983) This avante garde documentary by Chris Marker explores the creation and maintenance of cultural memory with an essay… Continue reading The King was born in a manger sans the alluring cross

Inside the future dogmen

  Prelude: Dog Star Man (1961) Dog Star Man: Part I (1962) Dog Star Man: Part II (1963) Dog Star Man: Part III (1964) Dog Star Man: Part IV (1964) Stan Brakhage is one of America’s foremost experimental twentieth century filmmakers, but when I read reviews discussing his capitalistic critique or Jungian analysis, I feel like I’m missing something. I… Continue reading Inside the future dogmen

The myth of the farmer’s big wedding

  The Big Wedding (2013) Alejandro convinces his divorced, adoptive parents Don (Robert Deniro) and Ellie (Diane Keaton) to pretend they’re still married to appease his birth mother’s Catholic faith when she comes to his wedding. During their pretend reunion, Don and Ellie rekindle their relationship with a sexual liaison which forces long-buried family secrets into… Continue reading The myth of the farmer’s big wedding

The women can’t see nothin’ because of the darkness

  Post Tenebras Lux (2012) The director, Carlos Reygada, is well-regarded, especially for his earlier film Luz Silencosia (2007). Maybe his other films are better than this, but I’m not inclined to believe it. This “impressionistic film,” emulates the work of artists like Monet and Degas and has some well composed shots, but the pervasive attitude of the… Continue reading The women can’t see nothin’ because of the darkness