This is a review of the 2006 film directed by Tarsem Singh, not the more recent film with the same name. It's a film I would really like to discuss with someone else. It is visually stunning. I feel it has a deeper meaning, but I don't see what. Maybe a lively discussion with a friend over a glass of wine would help.
The film is set "a long time ago" in Los Angeles, but judging by clues in the narrative we can assume it takes place in the 1920's. A five-year-old Romanian immigrant, Alexandria, is in hospital after breaking her arm at work picking oranges. Was child labour usual in those days? That's sad. She makes friends with Roy, a film stuntman who has broken his leg while jumping off a bridge onto a horse. He wants to die because his girlfriend has left him for the film's lead actor. Roy tells Alexandria a story about six great heroes who have sworn to kill an evil Spanish leader, Governor Odious. We see the story in Alexandria's imagination, the characters being played by people that she knows in the hospital, both patients and staff. The story sometimes changes as it goes along. If Alexandria says that she doesn't like something Roy changes the story to accommodate her wishes.
Visually the film is a treat. It features scenery and landmarks from around the world. This is the most amazing thing about it. According to the director the film was shot in 24 different countries, although only 16 countries are referred to in the final credits, including South Africa, India, Italy, China and Brazil. In some "scenes" he cuts from one country to another when walking in and out of buildings. This extravagance must have cost him a fortune. He also risked his life and the lives of his actors in making the film. After filming an explosion in Tibet the crew was surrounded by soldiers. They only escaped by insisting the explosion was an accident. The filming on the steps of a mosque in India had to be abandoned twice because the crew was being stoned by believers, but the third attempt succeeded.
In today's world of cinema it's refreshing that a film can be made without CGI, relying only on real stunts and real locations. Look at the photo above. It seems unreal, but it's a genuine location in Tibet. Maybe I would give the film a higher rating if I understood its meaning better. If it has one. I welcome comments from my readers.
I wasn't sure what to make of it at first either...I figured the guy was telling her the story as just a way to pass the time while they were both stuck but then he went all pill happy and I got lost. Especially when he started ending the story that way...just seemed cruel. Who tells a 5 year old the world sucks and nobody can be saved aside from an injured suicidal stuntman who lost his girlfriend to his supposed best friend?
ReplyDeleteLove, love, loved the imagery though. Always refreshing to see imagination come through more 'realistically' than a computer model. ;-)
Thanks for your thoughts, Elizabeth. After I wrote my review I sat thinking about it, and I see something of a religious message. When Alexandria brings Roy the wafers he asks if she is trying to save his soul. She helps him and prevents him from committing suicide, which is one of the only unforgivable sins for the Catholic Church. Her name means "defender of men", another way of saying she is a saviour. I don't think that's the film's only meaning, but it's a start.
DeleteTarsem Singh doesn't give any clues in his director's commentary, but it's still worth listening to for all the anecdotes. For instance, Catinca (Alexandria) lost two teeth the day before filming began, so he added dialogue about her teeth into the script.