July 07, 2005
Earlier this afternoon, due to an endorsement from Paul Thomas Anderson and the promise of a soundtrack from Jonny Greenwood, I learned about this experimental documentary entitled Bodysong.
I visited the website and watched the trailer and read the Q&A with the director, Simon Pummell; and then I instantly went and pre-ordered the film, which is being released on DVD in the US next week. I don't often blind-buy DVDs on impulse anymore - but this particular impulse ran very, very deep.
This film looks like the most amazing thing since...since I don't know. The website suggests something reminiscent in form of Peter Greenaway's plans for The Tulse Luper Suitcase; the site is an experience in and of itself, and is thankfully included on the DVD.
Here are two quotes from Pummell that helped sell me in less than thirty seconds:
"Is it possible to make films that have a mythic scale? And yet show ordinary people living recognisable human lives. The things we have in common. Big epic movies and personal home movies - could these poles meet? Writing this film was about trying to really use the basic magic of the most powerful medium of the last 100 years. Trying to take the 'magic of the movies' seriously, asking what is it? What is it good for?"
"One thing became clearer and clearer for me, as we made this film, is that big close ups of the human face are always beautiful, if the emotion is true. It's seeing emotion written so clearly on a massive screen that is a great magic of cinema - that's how the ghosts speak to us."
The DVD should arrive sometime next week. I'm on the edge of my seat.
And this new trailer for The Corpse Bride leaves my heart all aflutter as well, albeit in an entirely different way.
Posted by David Lowery at July 7, 2005 02:21 AM