So I've been slowly making my way through the "films to watch" list that I wrote in April. The latest films that I watched were The Double Life of Veronique by Krzysztof Kieslowski, and Happy Go Lucky by Mike Leigh. I like watching films where the main lead is a girl, because, unapologetically, I am a girl. We often subconsciously/consciously identify with the lead character in a film, and as that person is quite often, male; the female in me has nothing to connect to.
The Double Life of Veronique...seemed like a rather slow and solemn version of Amelie. There's atmosphere, there's European-ness, lovers using weird ways to contact each other. From there, it is not like Amelie at all. It's far too serious, far two existential. The story goes: there are two Veroniques; one living in Paris and the other, in Poland. They are not twins, they are not related, but they look identical - are they identical? It's never really explained how the existence of two identical girls came to be. I wonder, does this actually happen? Is there someone out there who looks exactly like me? I'd like to meet her. What's weirder?: that there would be someone out there who looks identical to you?, or that you are absolutely unique and there is no one like you?. Both of these prospects are pretty amazing.
Happy Go Lucky, yup, this film was very different. The main character, Poppy, is a perky school-teacher who refuses to take life seriously. I suppose that she was kind of charming; her character was pretty convincing. But I wasn't entirely taken by Mike Leigh's floaty slice-of-life style story-telling. The film just kind of drifted along, showing Poppy on a trampoline, Poppy taking spanish dance lessons, Poppy teaching her class about bird migration, Poppy going to visit her sister, Poppy having driving lessons with a mentally unstable instructor, Poppy hanging out with a homeless man in an abandoned industrial park. Generally, you feel like: gee, good on Poppy for giving life a good shot. Overall, did this film really resonate with me? Well, if you asked me while I was watching it, I would've said, "not terribly so", but actually it has stayed with me for over a week so there must be something in it.
Well, there's my films for the week. Writing about films is hard. Makes me appreciate really good film reviews. Ciao for now.
5 comments:
I liked these reviews! You accurately convey what you thought about them and what they are like as movies. I've not seen Veronique but I liked Happy Go Lucky. You're right. It is plotless and possibly too enamoured with its central protagonist. But I thought it was charming.
They both sound interesting, I havent seen Amelie yet but have heard its very cute!
I enjoyed Happy Go Lucky also, despite the lack of plot. It was very quaint. I need to see Amelie!
Tristan - thanks! Hahah I don't know if these quite qualify as "reviews"...as they're just my random reactions... I decided that I should start writing about the films I see etc just to keep up the writing habit so I don't lose it completely.
StyleSed - (sorry I don't know your name yet?) - You have to see Amelie! It's compulsory viewing!
Jill-anne - WHAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN AMELIE!??? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE!!!!?? WHAT HAPPENED?
How can you not see Amelie?
I'm downloading these 2 films right now.
I will comment again tomorrow.
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