5.0 out of 5 stars
Masterful, humble film, October 10, 2011
This review is from: Crane World (DVD)
I can't believe how lucky I was to run into this film! When I randomly picked up the DVD, with its low-budget, unpretentious cover design, I never imagined that it would move me like it did! And I had no idea that it had won a number of international awards. (It now makes sense.)
Indeed, the film is a small-scale production. Its black and white photography is gorgeous, but somewhat grainy. In fact, as I first started watching it, I thought that it had been made some decades ago. Only later did it dawn on me that the story takes place during the tough Argentine economic crisis of the late 90s and early 00s. The characters, buildings and vehicles look like they could have been pulled out of the 70s or early 80s. It shares a visual look with some early Scorcese films. Its mood and poetry also seems more romantic and old-fashioned than I'm used to seeing in more recent films. Its elegance and social theme are perhaps more reminiscent of the Italian neorealist films of the 40s and 50s.
Crane World also reminds me a bit of the great Five Easy Pieces, with Jack Nicholson, which also deals with a sensitive musician who puts his music aside in order to work in construction. The circumstances surrounding the two main characters are very different, but there is that link between them. Unlike Robert Dupea (Nicholson's role in Five Easy Pieces), Crane World's Rulo has a beautiful sense of humor and doesn't take himself terribly seriously. He's a dreamer confronted by reality, but also an every day normal guy navigating life as fluidly as he can. As the going gets tough, he makes an effort to keep his chin up and find serenity within the struggle.
The film doesn't provide big explosions or fireworks. It's a rather quiet piece of work. What consistently amazes about it from start to finish is how natural and spontaneous it feels. One might as well be watching a documentary or be dreaming.
Unfortunately for non-Spanish speakers, some of the magic will be lost in translation, as much of the film's melody comes from the Argentine dialogue that the actors produce so effortlessly.
Still, there's no good reason to miss this touchingly eloquent jewel.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
