These screen-grabs have been on my computer for a while now - many were intended to crown blog posts that never materialized. Others were going to be entered in the "Guess the Pic" challenge on Wonders in the Dark, before that contest died a long, painful death at the hands of Philip Johnston. One was supposed to be a DVD menu for a disc that never got burned, and at least one was taken just because it looked good. So here they are, apropos of nothing. Click on the pictures if you want to see 'em full-size:
And this one, a composite:
Sources: Berlin Alexanderplatz, Made in USA (I think - actually, later in the day, I'm pretty sure it's Pierrot le fou), Michel Gondry's music videos, the Quay Brothers' short films, Sans Soleil, The End of St. Petersburg, The Big Lebowski, and Hail Mary.
There's something really satisfying about looking at a good film frame in isolation. It's like a shorthand reminder of the film it came from, of the aesthetics at work in the film. So I love the shots included here, particularly Karina, Alexanderplatz, that great Hail Mary collage and the amorphous blob from Marker's Zone.
ReplyDeleteTrue, but sometimes the appeal is also an isolated one - I think some of these frames may work better even out of context. At the very least they probably make one curious as to where they came from - though I can't be sure given that, by definition, I'd seen the works before capturing the frame.
ReplyDeleteThe next post, tomorrow, will be another picture one, albeit with a slightly different approach. One could come up with several justifications, but the truth is I don't have the wherewithal for a prose piece right at this moment! Still, images speak louder, yada yada
Fantastic images. Hail Mary is my second favourite Godard film (after Notre Musique).
ReplyDeleteShortly after Jesus is born there is a collection of little scenes to the sound of Dvorak or Bach (I can't remember) that to me come as close to perfection as possible:
Mary walking away in the sunshine with the baby in her arms
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Pink blossom on a tree
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Mary and baby bursting out to the surface of a swimming pool
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Incredible sunset
P.S. My post of animated review links is up, MovieMan - including your review of Spirited Away
Anna Karina! Most actresses with a face that lovely let it do their acting for them (I'm thinking, with sadness, of Hedy Lamarr.); but Karina had, and has, remarkable skills. She's a marvel in A Woman Is A Woman, and Pierre Le Fou. "A girl and a gun" indeed! If Karina had not existed, it would have been necessary for Godard to invent her.
ReplyDeleteIt often feels that way with particular filmmakers and particular stars, doesn't it? As for Karina, I've ever seen her in a non-Godard movie, come to think of it.
ReplyDeleteMany years ago I saw her in Visconti's L'Etranger, but missed her Rivette movies--both of the 60's and the 90's.To my mind her Godard roles usually resemble each other: her persona vulnerable but tough, and effortlessly fatale to the male actors. (The minute a Belmondo character appears in a Karina movie, he might as well shoot himself in the first frame as the last.) And of course you're right that certain stars and filmmakers will always be linked. Thank God for the directors' unwise passionate obsessions.
ReplyDeleteWonderful. I would say that the Karina still is indeed from Made in USA. But, may be not.
ReplyDeletebut Stephen may have given me the surprise of the day. Never heard anyone call Notre Musique as their favorite Godard. Lovely choice Stephen. Would like to read something on it, if you've not written already...
"Thank God for the directors' unwise passionate obsessions."
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Margaret!
JAFB,
Yeah I shuttle back and forth on it. Looking at it again I think you may be right.
JAFB, I have not written anything on Notre Musique but I may well now that you have reminded me of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to put into words what attracts me to my favourite films and Notre Musique is certainly one of those.
If you're interested here is someone else's brilliant, in-depth look at the film. It is not particularly personal but riveting nonetheless:
http://jclarkmedia.com/film/
filmreviewnotremusique.html