Monday, February 16, 2015

Two very, very different films


Snowpiercer, an SF Film

Into Great Silence, a documentary



  
Snowpiercer
 
Several nights ago, I watched two very different films.  One was Snowpiercer, directed by the South Korean director  Bong Joon-ho.  It's a post-catastrophe or post-apocalypse film that reflects current events.


In an attempt to deal with global warning, a chemical is interjected into the upper atmosphere.  It, of course, goes wrong (otherwise there would be no film), and, instead, sends earth off into a planet-wide ice age, killing off everything.  The only survivors are the lucky ones who managed to get aboard a long, powerful, and self-sufficient supertrain created by the mysterious and wealthy Wilford.  Obsessed with trains, Wilford uses his wealth to create a world-wide railway system for his train. 

It's now seventeen years later, and a strict brutal class/caste system has evolved.  The train is a linear depiction of this system, with the train tailenders at the back living in a few overcrowded and rundown cars, on rations barely above the starvation level.   any grumbling is met with a lecture about how ungrateful they are to be allowed to live.  They are at the back end and others at the front because that's the way it is and they should know their place.  This is the natural order of things.   Sound familiar?

As we move forward, the conditions improve until we reach just behind the Eternal Engine where the rich live idle lives with a variety of rich foods, clothing, and drugs, with no concern for the less fortunate at the train's back end. At the front is the Eternal Engine compartment, occupied only by Wilford, who is seen almost as a deity at this point and visited by only a few.

However, yet another revolution by the ungrateful powerless poor is brewing.  Curtis, one of those trapped in the rear of the train, leads the poor and dispossessed through the train which provides numerous fight scenes, violence, and a high body count. 

The number of interesting characters among the rebels and the ruling elite is one of this film's strong points.

One point made by the film perhaps explains the behavior of the very rich and powerful today.  They seem unconcerned about the dangers brought about by global warming at this point, and spend millions of dollars fighting legislation that is designed to reduce the threat if that legislation reduces either their power or their profits.   The film suggests that they believe that, while global warming or any severe climate change may cause problems, they are rich enough and powerful enough to ensure their own comfortable survival. 




Into Great Silence

Fortunately that wasn't the only film I watched that  night and doubly fortunate that I watched Into Great Silence, a documentary about life in a Carthusian monastery, the Grande Chartreuse monestery in the Chartreuse Mountains of France, afterwards.   The non-stop action in Snowpiercer would have kept me awake for a long time.  Into Great Silence was the exact opposite-- almost a silent film, with only one instance of the monks engaging in conversation and that at a permitted time.  The only other examples of the human voice was the chanting during ceremonies and a formulized question-and-answer dialogue when a novice took his temporary vows.  Oh yes, one other bit of talk occurred when the monk, whose job it was to feed the monastery cats, called them for dinner.  He talked a little to them and noted that one was the big boss. 


Philip Groning, the director, had contacted the monastery in 1984, requesting permission to do the documentary.  They responded that they weren't ready yet.  Finally, 16 years later Groning was told they were ready. 

The film is a visual documentary:  there is no narrative voice explaining what is being filmed.  The viewer is forced to guess.  Groning shot the film in natural light so the viewer sees the monastery and its inhabitants going about their daily routine without any artificial lighting.

The monastery does have electricity, but its use seems to be limited to when it is absolutely necessary; for example during night time services, small lights are placed by the music stands so they can see the music.  Clearly it replaces candles.  The Carthusians do not have tonsures, but instead get all of their hair cut off regularly.  (Reminded me of my time in basic training in the USAF)  They use electric hair clippers instead of hand clippers. 

The monks were shown going about their daily lives of prayer, work, meditation, and rituals without commentary.  They never spoke, except for the examples noted above, and seemingly spent most of the day silently and solitary, at least outwardly so. 


The combination of the silence and the beautiful photography both inside the monastery and outside made this an extraordinary film.

18 comments:

  1. Omg, Bong Joon-ho? Oh oh you must check out Mother! 1 of the films with the best twist ever.
    I'll try to see if the public library has Snowpiercer.

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  2. Di,

    OK, the library has a copy of it available, so I will take a look at it.

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    1. Memories of a Murder is quite good too, I think.
      Do you watch lots of South Korean films?

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    2. Di,

      Not specifically. If one appears that looks interesting, then I will watch it. The only other South Korean film I've seen is a South Korean SF film, Natural City, which is an interesting adaptation of or an homage to Blade Runner.

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    3. Di,

      Forgot to mention that Memories of Murder is already in my Netflix queue.

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    4. I see.
      My favourite South Korean film is Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring. A very poetic film. And there's something like Zen about it.

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    5. Park Chan-wook is another famous South Korean director. But I prefer Bong Joon-ho, so far at least.
      And of course Kim Ki-duk is big. I love 1 of his films (the one I've just mentioned). Can't stand the other films I've seen.

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    6. Di,

      Just remembered another South Korean film I've seen: The Good, the Bad, the Weird--sort of a takeoff on you can guess what film. And, the film was weird. I ended up giving it 5 stars on Netflix. . .

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    7. Some South Korean films can be quite weird. Haha.
      Japanese ones are even weirder. Of course I'm not talking about Ozu or Kurosawa.

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    8. Di,

      Since most of the Japanese films I've watched have been directed by Kurosawa, I haven't seen any really weird ones.

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    9. Makes sense. So would you like to see some weird Japanese films?

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    10. Di,

      Right now I have a full queue at Netflix, so thanks, but not at the present moment.

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  3. Perhaps it was time for _Murder on the Eternal Engine Express_ and a Belgian detective. Well, it's a thought.

    For another view of the religious/contemplative life, check out _Mariette in Ecstasy_. And, of course, as you and I have previously praised (I think), _A Canticle for Leibowitz_. I also was impressed years ago by Thomas Merton's _Seven Story Mountain_.

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    1. R.T.,

      Yes, it is a thought.

      Yes, A Canticle is a great novel.

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  4. R.T.,

    I tried Seven Story Mountain a number of years ago, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.

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    1. I think my fascination with Merton was influenced by his friendship with Flannery O'Connor. And there was a time when I had come out of a terrible phase in my life, and spiritual autobiographies meshed well with my own quest for a Higher Power.

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    2. R.T.,

      Yes, that relationship and your own personal reality could certainly develop an interest in the book.

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