Die bunte Flickendecke

Like many others, I only saw this movie once on TV one Saturday afternoon, many years ago, but I think it is one on the most realistic and endearing movies I have ever seen. Some scenes and the narration have stayed with me for a long long time. It is short, in black and white and, if I remember correctly, only two lines of dialog from the characters in one scene near the end, but it is narrated throughout with near perfection. The story is told mostly from the man's perspective, but the movie also shows the woman's perception of the marriage, and the phases her husband is going through. By the end of this movie, you will know these people, you will feel for them, and you will see a bit of them in yourself.

this movie is absolutely bizarre, but it sucks you in. you have to stay with it to see what will go wrong next.

This film is like several, barely remembered snippets of dreams. I saw this film many years ago, yet the visual images stay with me. It is a simple, plotless story about two extremely ordinary people, yet you come to care about them. This film is about as far from Hollywood as you can get. Wonderful direction- another one of John Korty's jewels. A true treasure for those who don't need to be knocked out- but who want to think and feel something real.

In an age when Hollywood beats us over the head with multi-million dollar promotional schemes, and alleged stars, this quiet movie just does everything right. If I were to direct a prospective film-maker to one flick, this would be it. The woman who believes in everything and the man who believes in nothing. The film was shot in the San Francisco Bay Area. Some scenes use members of The Committee, a local comedy club, (Think Second City) to marvelous effect. This is a droll comedy. If you need to be beat over the head, it ain't your flick. My only disappointment is that it is unavailable. Jan Wahl, the film critic, promised to carry my plea to John Korty but somehow that never happened. When I tell you I see a movie about every two years, you'll understand just how special this movie is.

I remember seeing this movie on Channel 11, the local PBS television station in Chicago, in the 1960's. I was a high school student at the time. Today I found myself remembering this one. I have just purchased the DVD from the John Korty website.

As I recall, this is a a modern day fable of a disillusioned man and a woman full of delusions. Burgess Meridith does a wonderful job narrating the film, which is some ways comes off as a silent film with narration.

It is a simple story: A contrast between those who try to live without delusion and those who seek fantasy. It is also a story about how this man changed and fell in love with this women who he thought was so silly. It left me such a lasting impression, I am certain that I am correct about the essentials. I also remember the endearing music, with violins (almost like "Fractured Fairy Tales" on "Rocky and Bullwinkle".)

When I get the DVD, let's see if I got things right after 44 years.