Viagens

Most films about the Holocaust concentrate on its horrors, or the tenacity of those who survived it. VOYAGES is a film about the fragementation of the lives of those who survived, about the smaller (i.e. less dramatic), but maybe more trenchant pain of dislocation, loss and deracination. As a film about the painful inheritance of war and genocide, it is unmatched in my viewing experience; this is a very powerful and affecting piece of work, made even more devastating by the subtle quietude of its voice.

A good idea, poorly executed by a novice director. Would have benefited enormously from some skilled editing and focus. Nice idea but tedious and yet probably worth seeing just for the performance of the brilliant Yiddish actress who plays the Russian emigre to Israel in search of her long lost cousin.

A beautiful, slow, careful movie which prefers complicated situations to cliches, and offers us nuances rather than the more typical hammer-over-the-head. Don't expect any Hollywood razzle dazzle - this is European in the best way: quiet, small, and focused. A perplexing and puzzling story which asks us to consider memory as a riddle. Beautiful, beautiful movie.

OK so a film about The Holocaust is important, however it should be also interesting for us to care. This film is not directly about The Holocaust but what affect it had on those who gone through it. It is divided to three parts and none of the parts has something that will raise the film beyond mediocre one.

Shame though it could have been better since the material has the potential.

According to one of the review, the director used to be assitant director to one of Kieslowski's film. Being a fan to Kieslowski's film, I could see the influence of story construction and telling on this film.

The film is about three women, somewhat related, mostly because all the women in these stories lived in Paris before WWII. It's different from most films is that there is no urgent mission to be accomplished, or grand political/cultural statement to be made, in another word, no heros or villians. Rather, it's like looking at passing of time for people 50 years after WWII, who happens to be Holocust survivors.

When their life intersect, there is a mysticism (like from Kieslowski's "Double life of Veroniqe") that make me speculate, are they long lost relatives to each other? Of course, the answer is not important, rather, the raising of the question is enough to let you feel the impact of history on these survivors.

The acting is minimalistic, but it's very effective. It has an air of wistfulness and timelessness to it. Not for everyone, but good for me.