hush-4

This completely brilliant film was the first Julie Dash film I have seen, and if the rest of her work is as brilliant, she is going on my list of all-time favorite directors. While listening to the Gullah language is a bit tricky at first, this is one of those rare films which rewards re-watching with further insights, and new perspectives. It is rare for me to still enjoy a film I've studied in detail after having to pull it to pieces, but Daughters of The Dust is not only still enjoyable, it is breathtaking in the sheer detail present in every shot, the layered symbolism which seems to only uncover more layers as you peel each back. I thought I had become sick of all American film, that all that was left was either formulaic, or pretentious art-house, but this film proves that all wrong. Watch it. More than once! The opening image, of dust blowing out of work-worn hands is an essay in visual poetry in itself!

WARNING: if you do not know the play Macbeth, I refer to the ending, so please do not read this if you wish to keep the ending a surprise!*****

Most of the later, stylized BBC Shakespeare TV-films have impressed me to some degree. Not so, Macbeth. While the highly stylized setting was effective in parts, the actors seemed to misunderstand much of the play, the ironies and character development. Lady Macbeth was especially guilty of this, during the speech in which she asks the "spirits which tend on mortal thoughts" to unsex her. The point of the speech is that Lady Macbeth is asking to be made sexless, remorseless and resolute. This Lady Macbeth, however, throws herself onto the (convenient) bed, legs spread wide in an almost masturbatory speech. I began to wonder at this point if she had actually read the play, or was being given her lines scene at a time! Sadly, the performance only got worse. Macbeth was marginally better, although the use of the "evil" rasping voice for his murderous thoughts, contrasted with the "manly" voice in the parts where his conscience is awakened makes for a very two dimensional tragic hero. Yes, that's right, Macbeth is a tragic hero, who is bought to downfall by his ambition and paranoia. Instead, the interpretation Jack Gold has given the play turns it into something resembling a 19th century melodrama, with an evil villain, pious king and Malcolm, and a heroic Macduff, completely ignoring the irony of Malcolm's statement of Macbeth as a butcher (Macduff, carrying Macbeth's head is visually the only butcher on stage) and the fiend-like Lady Macbeth (who we last saw wracked with guilt, sleep walking, only to kill herself later out of despair in the knowledge of what they have done). The introduction of the Weird Sisters, who rise out of stone was impressive. It is a pity the rest of the production did not follow suit.

Before I actually watched American History X I had the impression that the film was about white-supremacist groups in America, and the moral vileness of inequity. (Needless to say, it was a while before I got around to watching it.)

I was wrong.

Aside from the brilliant casting, the subtle, but evocative cinematography (no showing off, no intellectual snobbery), the plot of the film was simply stunning. Instead of dealing with racism, and gang politics in the overdone manner of every other film out of the US that even mentions gangs, this took you right inside the heads of Derek and Daniel Vinyard. I have not seen a film made since A Clockwork Orange which has so successfully subverted what you think you know, to make you see something in a different light, and sympathize with a character you were initially repulsed by. (I'm not saying there haven't been films like this, it's just I haven't seen them).

There are very few films that I feel deal with any subject fairly, and I think this one managed. To top it off American History X was superbly acted, with all the actors becoming their roles, rather than simply playing them. It's hard to picture Fairuza Balk as anyone other than Derek's violent girlfriend, or even Eddie Furlong as anything other than Daniel Vinyard. Ethan Suplee did an amazing transition from the kind of film one usually catches him in (Mallrats - as Willim, and other comedies), to being a truly frightening character (Seth). And Edward Norton. How can I not rave on and on about this guy? All I can say is that I was totally blown away by his portrayal of Derek Vinyard. Compare this to the Narrator in Fight Club, and you'll see what I mean. You'd never even know it was the same man.

As a rather un-intellectual end note...If you're not an Edward Norton fan yet, I suggest you don't rest until you've seen some of the strikingly different characters that he is able to portray in such a manner that it is very difficult to recognize him as the same person.