catalog

Well-known member
It is the centenary of Berlanga, for me, the greatest spanish director ever. How was he able to shoot "The excecutioner" bending the censhorship rules of the dictatorship in Spain? nobody knows for sure, maybe the other great deceiver for the censhorship was Buñuel with Viridiana, but Berlanga was able to do it again and again, with a strong social message as subtext of his absurd "slice of life" comedy. Half Fellini, half Ken Loach, he was a satire master, with a portrait of corruption, hypocrisy, greed, and mediocrity of the Franco years, and the change to a democratic era that recycled all those flaws of the society. His signature was long sequence shots that needed a complex rehearsal and almost a choreography.

Must-see:

-The Executioner
-The National Shotgun
-Placido

I watched "The executioner" last night. Very good. Offbeat characters working entirely at cross purposes. Quite funny, actually hilarious in parts, with a serious undertone, like when they go to see their new apartment that's not been built yet, and there's a guy taking a shit on the building site. Might have to read up on the metaphorical bits to it, I feel like there's some subtext I'm missing.

Great actor portraying the father. Was also nice cos the dialogue, whilst overlapping like you say, was relatively slow and easy to follow, chance to practice a bit of Spanish.

It did feel quite similar to Almodovar, like an extended soap episode. One very memorable shot, where he's walking through the prison yard, the actual guy getting executed is all fine, and he's falling apart.
 
I watched "The executioner" last night. Very good. Offbeat characters working entirely at cross purposes. Quite funny, actually hilarious in parts, with a serious undertone, like when they go to see their new apartment that's not been built yet, and there's a guy taking a shit on the building site. Might have to read up on the metaphorical bits to it, I feel like there's some subtext I'm missing.

Great actor portraying the father. Was also nice cos the dialogue, whilst overlapping like you say, was relatively slow and easy to follow, chance to practice a bit of Spanish.

It did feel quite similar to Almodovar, like an extended soap episode. One very memorable shot, where he's walking through the prison yard, the actual guy getting executed is all fine, and he's falling apart.
People here is still perplex that this guy did this film. And that he went on working within the spanish system. I mean, it is a 1963 movie, and last use of capital punishment was in late 1975. Even so, he was the son of a politician of the Republic. He had to "volunteer" to go with the Blue Division to the aid of the nazis against Russia because his dad was in prison waiting to be executioned (and the end, the bribes did more to save his life). And even if he says he did not shot anyone in the russian front, that is strong, that is blackmail, that is sacrifice your principles for the life of your family because of the fascism system, and that is being pointed as a "dangerous element".

I think the movie talks about that moment of passing the worst years of postwar, and having to sacrifice principles, humanity, your own soul, in order to enter the consumer society, and having the social position that allows you to form a family, by being partner in crime with the dictatorship. It is a funny movie, but it is damn real.

Glad that you ejoyed it
 
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linebaugh

Well-known member

a bit cheesy at time, but a very nice and easy watch (until it isnt). the acting is great.

Not enough coming of age movies about middle age men.
 

linebaugh

Well-known member
the film rmade feel sad about the US. its they type of film that could never make here- for both its attitude towards booze and aging. And theres really no city on the entire continent that looks as good as wherever they were in the netherlands
 

Clinamenic

Binary & Tweed
Plus their whole impetus was ostensibly philosophic, which would have a tough time passing as normal here. Not sure who it would be appealing to.
 

linebaugh

Well-known member
Plus their whole impetus was ostensibly philosophic, which would have a tough time passing as normal here. Not sure who it would be appealing to.
eh, I think we have a philosophic strain here, but maybe different than how its presented over there. not sure
 
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linebaugh

Well-known member
I have no idea if tasteful mid life crisis films are common in euro film so the comparison is silly, but googling 'mid life crisis movies' gives a very sad and very long list of american films
 

Corpsey

bandz ahoy
I saw that Portrait of a Lady on Fire the other week and that was great. Beautifully shot, thought provoking, emotionally impactful, etc.etc...

And yes, I did get an erection at one point but I manfully restrained myself from frenziedly masturbating and ruining my enjoyment of what really was a film I'd recommend.
 
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