9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Here's what i think..., December 12, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Journey to Kafiristan (DVD)
I sat and pondered what made me buy this movie. I saw it twice for two separate reasons: One for the story, and the other for the cinematic executions. Both were well executed, though the latter is well superior over the other.
Story: Modestly articulated, involving two gifted individuals in the middle of WWII. The irony, as i see it, is that these two souls coming together looking for solace and answer to a life they once knew and at the same time looking for means and passage to a brand new "life" amidst the trial and turmoil of a world at war. That it didn't matter what the world was going through, emphasizes the beauty of so called, "selfishness".
Emotions aside, the movie potrayed Annemarie as distant, lost and lacking articulation. But that is beautifully captured by Jeanette Hain and knowing that Anne herself was a writer; reinforced her character by being more of a thinker than a speaker. They potrayed Ella as a power hungry, fame seeker.
What I fail to understand is the confusing chemistry between the two. I couldn't pinpoint if they were "attracted" to each other, or they were just "testing the waters" to see who "comes out" being a homosexual first. Another thing was what the objective of this movie was in the first place. Then I saw it again, and I realized that was just it. It was a journey to find themselves and that never actually happened because supposedly "Hitler invaded Poland". A little anti-climax but maybe that was just there is to it.
Cinematic execution: Most definitely a prodigy of the usual, cheesy movies (of gay/lesbian themed) - long pauses, scenes with absolute silence, wide camera angles - an art film most definitely. Myriads of beautiful forms, colours and gorgeous landscapes to appease the audience who might feel a little deprived of "action" .
Since it is unfair to just give an overall "impression" to the movie, here are a brief rundown to the ratings:
No star for the lack of "goodies" on the DVD. A complete let-down.
3 stars for the lack of development to both storyline and character appreciation.
4 stars to the lead actresses (especially Jeanette) for outstanding performance that gave the word "tension" a whole different meaning.
5 stars for the execution.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a whole new world, December 21, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Journey to Kafiristan (DVD)
The more I watch this dvd, the more I like it. The more I learn about Ella Maillart and Anne-Marie Schwarzenbach, the more I love it.
I had not heard of these two women before watching the film, but being something of a nerd, I started researching and found the book on which the film is based: Ella Maillart's "The Cruel Way." I found it in the stacks of my local library and it is proving to be a very interesting read. It is also serving to fill in the more ambiguous bits of the story.
The film is subtle but lovely.
The relationships are ambiguous and much is left unsaid.
I recommend reading the book in conjunction with this film, and I definitely recommend seeing this film. There are no fabulous sex scenes, but there is plenty of food for thought.
I do wish there were some extras on the dvd -- for instance, there is a documentary out there, somewhere, about these two women. And a director's commentary would have been appreciated. On the other hand, perhaps she wanted the film to speak for itself, and I can respect that view as well.
Seeing this film has opened a door into the world of these two extraordinary women, and I am very pleased that I took a chance and bought this dvd.
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Truth in a photograph, February 22, 2004
This review is from: Journey to Kafiristan (DVD)
A true story from more than sixty years ago, yet it could have happened yesterday in much the same part of the globe. Slow, melodic, and like a day dream, no one denies the exquisite erotic tension that exists here. Neither can it be denied that this perfume is found in a patriarchal world of imminent violence. In one extraordinary scene after another, where communication cannot be had by the exchange of words, a rapport is obtained between the inhabitants of this world despite the inexorable progress to war.
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