Customer Reviews

Chappaqua

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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...

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.

Excellent music by Ravi shankar and a very nonlinear, trippy filmmaking style coupled with the spiritual journey theme of an addict, definitely condusive to the psychedelic experience.

Love it or hate it, either way Chappaqua won't leave you unmoved. It's a journey that will mess with your mind, partly through the music and partly through the disturbing and confusing array of visuals. Chappaqua draws its viewers into a world of drugs and alcohol, allowing them to experience that confusing world without having to indulge in substance abuse themselves. The kind of film a serious student of cinema needs to watch at least once.

Buy it if you can, steal it if you must - this film is not normal!

Music is very much a part of this 1966 film. One of its many credits is to one "Phil Glass."

I was ready for a wild ride of visual hallucinations according to other reviews and felt this film really came up short. I was enticed by the fact that Burroughs and Ginsberg made appearences but I'd call them cameos. Burroughs' character is boring and Ginsberg and boyfriend Peter are jamming in Central Park singing Shamalama Ding Dong for about 30 seconds. The mythology of Peyote is touched on with Native American narrative but, come on, must the story be acted out with a woman in a Maxi dress walking along the banks of a river? She is supposed to be the mother of a trancendant mystical magical mind guide drug and it comes off more like a Dippity Do TV ad from 1967. The music by Shankar is great. I will give the film that. I spent way too much money on this DVD. A classic by no means. Not anymore anyways. Save your money for a nickel bag.