Amour (2012)

This blog went into a slumber a while ago and that's mostly due to my new hectic work/school schedule. The simple truth is that I don't have time to write anymore. And when I squeeze in an hour or two here and there, I seem to lack the capacity to write. Call it mental fatigue, writer's block ... either way, I'm the one to blame for the prolonged radio silence. Despite this apparent lack of temporal and mental resources, once in a blue moon something comes along and compels me to brandish my keyboard (no euphemism there) and type some nonsensical reasons why I like or dislike a film. Amour is one such beast.

White Material (2009)

It is said of Pink Floyd’s guitarist David Gilmour that his genius lies not just with what he plays, but with what he doesn’t play. Gilmour himself in an interview a while ago said that he wanted to play all the flashy stuff, but despite all his efforts his fingers weren’t just fast enough. So he resigned himself to play the style that we have become familiar with. But I digress …

Claire Denis’ latest film could be said to be a film that can be defined for what it doesn’t show than what we see on the screen. Does that make it a “better” film? That’s open to discussion. It feels a little disjointed at times, but it is a sumptuous feast for the eyes and ears nevertheless.