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25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cult film with bizarre visuals-nothing more, September 7, 2000
This review is from: Chappaqua (DVD)
The film follows the mental journey of an addict as he checks himself into a drug rehab clinic in europe to overcome his dependence on drugs and alcohol. The film is basically one hallucination after another which may appeal to those who enjoy this sort of thing. The film is, in parts, fascinating to watch, especially the 'vampire' sequence. The appearance of Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs add to the 'sixties drug addict' feel of the film as well. Recommended to those who enjoy something different.
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23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Psychedelic classic of struggle against addictions., June 6, 1999
CHAPPAQUA, winner of the 1966 Venice Silver Lion, is a cinematic slice of '60's avant-garde, with director Conrad Rooks in the main role of this semi-autobiographical tale told mostly in dramatic, shifting, cinema verite images with sparse dialogue. Such famous figures as William S. Burroughs(addict-author of NAKED LUNCH), poet Allen Ginsberg, guru Swami Satchidanda, et al, drift in & out of the planes of consciousness depicted in this struggle for escape from the torments of alcoholism and drug experimentation & addiction. I actually bought this video for the soundtrack, which came out on vinyl in 1968 with great fanfare but has not yet been released on CD. Most of the music was composed and played by Ravi Shankar, who also appears in the movie. The score is an excellent fusion of Indian ragas and talas with Western jazz. Others heard and seen in the movie (that are not on the original LP) include Ornette Coleman and the Fugs. The cinematography is excellent, extremely imaginative and varied, with international, on-location shots of many of the popular hip & religious spots of 1965-66. Much of the style in CHAPPAQUA, particularly the way that numerous philosophical and dramatic ideas are presented visually, original in its day, was later emulated by other directors, such as Roger Corman (THE TRIP)and Peter Fonda (EASY RIDER). CHAPPAQUA is a definitive weird ride through a wild time in history played out in psychological drama with few words. If you experienced that era (as I did), you'll see it like it was. If you didn't, this is the next best thing to being there -- and a whole lot safer. But fasten your seatbelt anyway...
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15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Chappaqua intense insight to 1966 sub-culture world, June 20, 1999
By A Customer
Didn't know what to make of this one, first time I saw it. I knew it was something special, but didn't understand it fully, and wasn't sure I even liked it. After the third or fourth viewing, it became my all-time favorite movie. What many people who saw this film don't realize is the motivation behind it. America provides rediculous methods of help for people for whom the drug world becomes hell. This film tried to show the alternative possible when an addict is treated as an important individual. The hallucination/dream sequences are blurred with reality incredibly well to show the wonder and terror of drug-reality. I highly recommend this classic to any thinking person who appreciates beat culture or is sick of market-researched, formula mainstream movies.
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