Siberia

I just watched it at Berlinale festival and liked it. Many people left the theatre during the film. For example when they saw a naked person or something they might not understand. Sure, it's not a Larry wants Harry to meet Barry film. I watched such horrible films. The last days. And this one was beautifully shot. People are not able anymore to just watch and try to understand. They need it all clear and dull. And as soon they see a naked woman they call it sexist, even when it's intention is the complete opposite. It's a philosophical film about life and relationships and also about the human nature and nature itself within its powers way beyond ours. It's episodically filmed with many layers. I'm so saddened about what I experienced around me in the cinema. Ferrara was always edgy and thank god he is. That's art. That's freedom of art. Unpleasant. My favorite film of the Berlinale so far.

A strange film that explores the mental landscape of a man struggling with his devastating memories. The filmmaking is of variable interest and boredom points its nose a little too often. Abel Ferrara has a lot of energy and inspiration but does not provide great intensity or great precision of filming here to make up for the lack of a real narration. The camera moves at times in a rather crude way. Dazzling beauties are scattered throughout the film. For example, a very good editing point where Clint (Willem Dafoe) perhaps sees himself entering a room. Madness lurks. You have to take it as a particular trip, not as a very mastered work, and then it becomes an interesting experience beyond the flaws.

And appropriately I fell asleep halfway through. I did wake up eventually and watch it all but only with a few cups of coffee to keep me going. I usually love Ferrara and thought I could watch Dafoe in anything. This tested that theory to destruction. Oh there are some excellent scenes but on the whole it's just so soporific. Maybe it's all that snow..............................

Love to have been at the meeting where Ferrara pitched this film and someone told him 'Go make it.' I love to say something about 'Siberia's' story but there isn't one. Well acted and I'd love to give it props for production but as far as I can tell it's just a lot of weirdness posing as something profound.

This film has no story. It is just a collection of scenes which are sexual, twisted or bloody. I find it quite a torture to watch.