Morlang

The role of the muse in an artist's personal palette is one topic of interest. And vice versa perhaps. The challenges in a relationship for a decade and beyond, that is a topic of more general note.

These are in the blender here, but I almost wish I had seen the tagline "Based on a true story" when I saw the trailer. The trailer made the film look more compelling, but I wonder if some of the non-fiction elements weighed this down for me.

It's definitely a different film, and the Film Movement series has often been rewarding. Something keeps us at a distance here, perhaps to heighten elements of suspense, but maybe more related to the guarded nature of the characters.

Fine acting did help carry the film, especially from the semi-stoic Udo Kier body double in the lead. (Yes, I should perhaps watch more Paul Freeman films...)

Anyways, this is my review....based on a true viewing.

Morlang annoyed me. I really looked forward to watching it. Technically, it is excellent. Morlang is well acted and well directed and I wanted to watch the movie to its end. However, as I watched Morlang, I kept thinking, "This should be a really good movie, but it isn't". I'm still not sure why I didn't feel it was a good movie. Perhaps it is because I "read" Morlang correctly from the beginning so that the ending was no suprise at all? But whatever the reason, I felt that Morlang should have been an exceptional movie, but fell far short.

I thought this movie was fabulous. Several reasons:

I didn't recognize any of the actors; didn't matter. They were superb on every level. The characters are dynamic (meaning: they grow and change somewhat throughout the movie as the story progresses) and their behavior and motivations well-supported by the course of the narrative.

As for the plot: The plot twists are both surprising and the turns and twists are revealed to the viewer at the most opportune moment. Contrary to some movies, where the big revelation is deflating, MORLANG only gets better as it reveals the little secrets. The way the plot unfolds, the movie becomes more and more engaging as the viewer begins to understand what has happened.

Nothing is lacking, and the conclusion is satisfying and fulfilling. Bear in mind that the film is based on actual events, and this movie's impact is multiplied.

"Morlang" is a movie that has not been seen in this country except in film festivals. It deserves a look. Director Tjebbo Penning, having also collaborated in the adaptation shows he has a sense of style in the way he has layered this picture.

Basically, it's the story of a painter, whose work was much admired, but is currently going through a crisis caused by his past coming to haunt him. Julius Morlang is a man who loved Ellen, his first wife. When she gets sick, Morlang is supportive until he realizes Ellen has not been a model wife at all. Her betrayal triggers a set of events that will actually bring chaos to his life with Ann, the much younger woman he has married after the death of Ellen.

Paul Freeman, an actor who has worked in television extensively, is the troubled painter. We watch him at various points of the Morlang's life and Mr. Freeman does an excellent work with his role. Equally effective are Diana Kent, who plays Ellen, and Susan Lynch, as the younger Ann.

The film tend to involve the viewer because it's never clear from the beginning how the character of Morlang is unraveling before our eyes, or what provoked it.

This film is set on the high end of the European art world. It's a story of an artist's obsession for his wife and jealousy of a rising young artist. These two forces are what motivate Morlang to do everything he does in this film. I also question the motives of the young rising artist. This film just confirms that even though man is the most intelligent animal on the planet, he's still an animal. I can't say much more without giving it away. The cinematography was perfect; great angles, telling the story without words. I'm glad Film Movement brought this movie to the U.S.. It would've been a shame if this film went by unnoticed.