here is Russell's movie "Mahler":
http://stage6.divx.com/user/opus3863aa/video/1861295/MAHLER-(1974-England)
Great link!
Quote from: Jezetha on November 27, 2007, 11:16:01 PM
Great link!
....... but a strange movie in my opinion. Not to my taste anyway. If you expect a biographical outline of his life in this movie, you will be disappointed.
Quote from IMDB (userrating 6.9 out of 10):
"Both trifles and structure are tossed out the door by director Ken Russell in this film. Here, historical content matters not so much as metaphors, feelings, emotions, and interpretations, and pay close attention, as every word and frame is intended to be important. The film takes place on a single train ride, in which the sickly, aged composer Gustav Mahler and his wife, Alma, confront the reasons behind their faltered marriage and dying love. Each word seems to evoke memories of past, and so the audience witnesses events of Mahler's life that explain somewhat his present state. Included are his turbulent and dysfunctional family life as a child, his discovery of solace in the "natural" world, his brother's suicide, his [unwanted] conversion from Judiasm to Catholicism, his rocky marriage and the death of his young children. The movie weaves in and out of dreams, flashbacks, thoughts and reality as Russell poetically describes the man behind the music. "
I'm aware of Ken Russell's quirkiness... But still - I want to see what he has made of Mahler's life and music. If I want fact and analysis, I know I have to look elsewhere!
It seems his film about Delius is very good, btw.
I have not seen his film about Delius, those about Bruckner and Elgar I did see and they fall in the same category in my opinion, i.e. weird. Still, I will try to find the one about Frederic Delius.
There is another film director who apparently is interested in classical music:Tony Palmer. I saw his 'Toward the unknown region" about Malcolm Arnold, which is very good. Another one about Vaughan Williams is about to be released at the end of the year, so it seems. I think this was mentioned in VW's thread some time ago.
Quote from: GBJGZW on November 27, 2007, 10:00:20 PM
here is Russell's movie "Mahler":
http://stage6.divx.com/user/opus3863aa/video/1861295/MAHLER-(1974-England)
Thanks for posting the link. :)
Watch the film, which I think is a load of bollocks. I'd prefer Amadeus and Immortal Beloved because despite historical inaccuracy, they TELL A STORY. That Ken Russell tripe is more like an exaggerated caricature of Mahleria trip on LSD.
Quote from: MISHUGINA on November 29, 2007, 06:50:12 AM
Watch the film, which I think is a load of bollocks. I'd prefer Amadeus and Immortal Beloved because despite historical inaccuracy, they TELL A STORY. That Ken Russell tripe is more like an exaggerated caricature of Mahleria trip on LSD.
don't you find the straightforward story-telling a little boring after so many times? Sure, you can dislike this film, but you can't dismiss the style the director chose to make "Mahler".
I guess you probably aren't a fan of Bunuel either, right? well, it's your loss.