Nocturne

I was fortunate enough to go to a screening of this movie. If you get a chance to see it I think you will be impressed. I left thinking about the plot and actors and going back over what they were telling me, not just while I was there. A great use of storytelling and cinematography with a mix better than most multi million movies. It's an independent movie that had me entertained from beginning to end. Try to see it if you can. It is probably going to be on the festival circuit for a while. but I really hope it gets a distributor that gets it to the general public as well.

I'm sure this is a first of many for Mr Pincus.

Nocturne is a stylish and engaging film. Director Saul Pincus has made the most of using visual storytelling for much of the film in a way that transports the viewer along the protagonist's journey. Dialogue is there when required but Pincus makes the daring choice to let the visuals and superb acting speak for themselves. The use of sound (and often its absence) and music add a wonderful dimension to the film. Everything in this movie is clearly thought out and executed with passion and attention to detail. The pacing of the film may not always be to everyone's liking but Nocturne does something most films these days don't do - make the viewer think. I'm very much looking forward to seeing more films from Saul Pincus.

I saw this movie on the closing night of the Kansas International Film Festival. Having seen the trailer, I was intrigued by the imagery of what I saw and expected. I was not disappointed.

The basic premise is a mousy woman is working for a computer firm that monitors e-mails. One day she sketches a flower, and sees a co-worker make a paper flower very similar. She is intrigued, but every time she tries to talk to her co-worker, she is ignored.

As she watches his actions, she becomes curious to has actions and activities.

Thus begins an intriguing movie that held me through to the conclusion. The characters are real, even though they are in larger-that-life situations. The lead actress is great. The lead actor has a very difficult job, but is very believable.

The movie itself is quite creative. There are great moments where sound is key. Also, there are some very creative photography that is cleverly done.

The music is also of note. There are standout parts, but never did the music feel self-conscious or out of place.

I fully recommend this movie. It is probably going to be on the festival circuit for a while. If you have the opportunity to see it, you will have a great experience watching a movie about regular people in unusual situations.

(Seen at the Warsaw IFF)

There were bright sides of this film - some camera work, the lighting, the lead actress. But that's about it.

What the trailer is suggesting, and what's rather in line with some first 10 minutes of the film, is the low key, silent, fantasy / romance tale immersed in the city night. Unfortunately this mood changes quickly and similar changes accompany the audience from time to time throughout the rest of the movie. Don't get me wrong - those are NOT plot twists but constant changes of the thing the film is aiming at. Just as it was not clear for the makers themselves what kind of film they want to make and as they kept re-writing the script from time to time as the shooting progressed. A fairy tale? A family drama? A crime thriller? A comedy? This is my biggest complaint, I think. It's not a blend of the above styles, it's rather a mess.

The whole cast, except the lead actress, seemed as confused with the script as the audience were (and admitted during the Q&A), which made the emotions they expressed incomprehensible. Paradoxically it was quite consistent with the similarly odd actions the protagonists undertook. All this together made the audience chuckle a bit when the film was approaching its climax, accompanied with lots of music suggesting lots of tension that simply weren't there. Some chuckled, some walked out of the screening room.

During the Q&A session the director pointed out many details, different styles and some complex background he wanted to incorporate into the film. I think it might be one of these cases when the vision blinds the creator a bit and he confuses the thing he wished to create with the one that was the actual effect. Instead of achieving the desired work, the crew created something unwillingly amusing (I loved the close-up (!) of a front of a car with the FORD logo that was carelessly covered with something that looked like a packing tape, that was a good one).

It could have been OK, but it was killed by an amateurish script.

Some excellent camera work, lighting and cinematography, and a score that works for the piece. it's a long film, and you'll need to be patient with the beginning before the pace and action kicks in. Found myself questioning what was going on in the beginning, but it pays off later on. Nice work from the leads. Director and cinematographer used lesser known locations in Toronto to build mood and tone and anchor the piece. Also some interesting angles and clever plot devices to keep the guessing going until the pieces come together. Great shots of Niagara Falls, and other city views, night shots. This is not a wham-bang action Hollywood movie, so be prepared to stick with it in the beginning for the payoff at the end--slow build with a satisfying finish.