Flawed, But Fascinating!
Kiyoshi Kurosawa'a Daguerreotype is one of the most beautifully shot tales of the supernatural you are ever likely to see. This is particularly apt, seeing the plot concerns a modern master of one of the earliest forms of still photography, whereby images are captured on large silver plates. Take a bow director of cinematography Alexis Kavyrchine.
The movie also contains an extraordinarily creepy, apparition scene shot in daylight in a green house, that is supremely effective despite being unencumbered by loud noises, musical crescendos and layers of CGI. This segment should have opened a door to the film's climax. But it doesn't and therein lies some of the problems with Daguerreotype.
This is a film which is at least 20 - 30 minutes too long and by rambling on haphazardly following the course of a couple of less than riveting and unconvincing sub-plots, it tends to dig its own grave so to speak. Part of the reason for this, I think is that Kurosawa wants to add more tail to the film's key twist which occurs some half way through. The trouble with this however, is that modern audiences post Sixth Sense etc. will realise very early the reality of the situation and so many of the later scenes become quite redundant and viewers will be entirely unsurprised at the late big reveal. On top of this a couple of the plot threads involving a real estate agent's supposed behaviour in facilitating a sale and a father's (almost) non-behaviour following a serious accident, will have many punters scratching their heads at the contrived outcomes.
So while this film has no lack of atmosphere and is a visual feast, far more judicious and deliberate editing would have likely resulted in a better, more streamlined final product.
The movie also contains an extraordinarily creepy, apparition scene shot in daylight in a green house, that is supremely effective despite being unencumbered by loud noises, musical crescendos and layers of CGI. This segment should have opened a door to the film's climax. But it doesn't and therein lies some of the problems with Daguerreotype.
This is a film which is at least 20 - 30 minutes too long and by rambling on haphazardly following the course of a couple of less than riveting and unconvincing sub-plots, it tends to dig its own grave so to speak. Part of the reason for this, I think is that Kurosawa wants to add more tail to the film's key twist which occurs some half way through. The trouble with this however, is that modern audiences post Sixth Sense etc. will realise very early the reality of the situation and so many of the later scenes become quite redundant and viewers will be entirely unsurprised at the late big reveal. On top of this a couple of the plot threads involving a real estate agent's supposed behaviour in facilitating a sale and a father's (almost) non-behaviour following a serious accident, will have many punters scratching their heads at the contrived outcomes.
So while this film has no lack of atmosphere and is a visual feast, far more judicious and deliberate editing would have likely resulted in a better, more streamlined final product.
- spookyrat1
- Oct 1, 2019