Kaos

"Kaos" (Italian, 1984): Told are five stories, separate but woven together by location (an incredible, ancient, crumbling, sun bleached land) and other unique poetic devices. They are told over 188 minutes. I suggest a short break after each story. They are all unique. Each has separate value, and is worth absorbing. Directed by Paolo & Vittorio Taviani. These unsentimental folk tales are loaded with humanity's weakness, strength, silliness, pettiness, and plenty of important symbolic lessons ALWAYS worth chewing on. When our Old People aren't there to pass along these lessons, at least we have the film makers. The screen is our fire. The seats are our logs. The film team is our story teller. The darkened room is our night.

Just wanted to add a brief comment that Kaos is the name of the estate that Pirandello grew up in and I believe also spent the last part of his life in. It's set in a gorgeous dramatic location - seeing it gives you a heightened sense of his perception of the world. The two or three buildings sit on top of a cliff that faces another cliff and the two face the ocean. Pirandello is buried there under a favorite evergreen. Unfortunately, that tree blew away in a coastal storm in fall of 1997.

Which, unfortunately is impossible for three hours. I've seen it two times in the cinema. The characters are so good, and are given all the time and space to develop starting with MariaGrazia. I really can't think of a movie that's made with more love and dedication. La Giara is a rare but welcome break and watch how Franchi and Ingrassia interact, watch the beauty of baby Bata's eyes in Mal di Luna. Just find out all those details and you won't be disappointed. Having seen Italy after watching KAOS was a feast of recognition, it's really like that, the villages where time stands still, the people, go and see it and you won't be disappointed.

Kaos is one obvious masterpiece of the Taviani brothers. Unfortunately I can not explain the title. But I don't think there is a clear explanation or important message in any of the stories either, in contrast with Kobayashi's Kwaidan (1964), which consists clearly of four stories about ghosts. Kaos seems to deal with family or legacy in general. There are five fairy-tales from Luigi Pirandello about ordinary people and the curious small worlds (or illusions) they find themselves in. I'm not going to reveal exactly what happens in the stories. It's just fantastic and a little nostalgic to watch the strange events and behaviour of different people for three hours without fancy special FX. Credit to cinematographer Giuseppe Lanci (Nostalghia, 1983) and composer Nicola Piovani of course, who did a surpassing job. The performances of the actors are great and never overdone. That wouldn't be appropriate for such a sober work of cinema that could have taken place 200 years ago. It may be not an important film, but it IS unforgettable, timeless and will become one of your personal favourites.

10 points out of 10 :-)

Once Sicily was the center of our western world, and this film shows us all the beauties of far, far away, together with a Pastorale worthy of a Beethoven Symphony.

No No, Nicola Piovani composed the unforgettable music all by himself.

This film is timeless, with an imagery, thanks to master Giuseppe Lanci, that is as well sober as breathtakingly beautiful.

There is not one weak actor and the stories are from Luigi Pirandello, who aimed to make one gorgeous novella for each day of the year.

KAOS of the Taviani-brothers could, or maybe even should, be watched every day of the week. This must truly be the most beautiful cinematic achievement ever.