JTatum-2

I thought this film was very nice and a total turn around from what I expected from those involved. Beat Takeshi was great as the male figure in the boy's life at this time. It was very nice to see how far they would go to make Maseo happy. I would compare this film to Central Station or any other road movie where the main characters are traveling to find something or someone. The pacing was not as slow as most Japanese films but the way it was shot makes it look like it was shot for the big screen. It will not play that well on a television screen. There is also influence from Godard here with the various chapters of the film. All in all, I enjoyed it.

I was not sure what to expect from this film as it is the only the second Polish film of Kieslowski's I have seen. Now it is one of my favorite foreign films and probably my second favorite Kieslowski film, under Red. I was so glued to the television while watching this because I was truly interested in the characters. I saw the 85 minute version and I can say it went very fast because I was completely wrapped up in the story. The passion that these two characters showed is something rarely seen in film. The fact that it was such a simple film with simple characters is quite important as well because it added to the feel of the film. I recommend anyone who can find this film see it.

Probably Kieslowski's oldest film available in the United States with subtitles, Personel is an interesting look at the people who do things behind the scenes for plays. The main character is outspoken after having just been hired to work with the costume making and is noticed by the higher ups when he suggests the workers start their own cabaret. There is a good contrast shown between the actors and those behind the scenes as far as attitudes toward each other. There are many closeups in the film and it is clear it was probably shot on lower quality 16mm with bad lighting. Nonetheless, it is an interesting view of a different aspect of the theatre as we are normally shown things only about the actors. Films such as Truffaut's The Last Metro and Osten's The Mozart Brothers are two examples of films about theatre actors.