Le Songe de la lumière

El sol de membrillo is a documentary that looks like a movie,a documentary shot like a movie.El sol de membrillo tells the story of a painting that was never finished,tells the story of what is going on in this painter's mind,tells the story of what is going on in every painter's,every artist's in general head,who is obsessed with Beauty and accuracy.It's a relaxing (in a good way) film that in spite of its rather long running time (almost two and a half hours)is not at least boring.That calmness derives from the director himself who looks like a never-angry ever-happy (not in the silly way) man who has a concrete philosophy on life and much thought in his background.That's all I can tell about this man who made an introduction to and a presentation of this work of his before the screening begun.Do not skip this movie, it can change the way you see things.

As other viewers have stated this is a MUST SEE for directors, writers, editors. So much done with so little makes this a perfect example of how a good movie is something which cannot be expressed in a song or in a book or in a painting. This story can only be expressed as a movie. You may never watch it again which is fine, you only need to watch it once. You don't even have to like it but it is a great asset to any aspiring film-maker. It will widen your understanding of what is unique to a film and what film has inherently which no other art-form has. A bonus is that it gives you a nice example of how a full feature length movie can be made with a tiny budget and one location.

This is a gem of a movie and much better than the few reviews I've read. I was prepared for some semi-documentary about the techniques of painting. What I saw was a film filled with warmth, humor, love, and a deep appreciation of nature and the mysterious beauty of the world. I don't think I'll ever be able to look at a tree or a piece of fruit (or anything in nature for that matter) in quite the same way. This film put me in touch with the things that are truly meaningful in life, somewhat akin to Wim Wenders film `Wings of Desire'. It is simple, yet glowing and sensual, filled with gorgeous cinematography and beautiful music. One of the best films I've ever seen.

If you can find this film, and can take slow-moving cinema, definitely pick it up. I came to it via Spirit of the Beehive, Victor Erice's first film, made in 1973. This film was his third, made nearly twenty years later. It's somewhat sad that such a marvelous artist as Erice has only produced three films in almost thirty years now, but I think Quince Tree of the Sun works in one way as a forgiveness for that fact. This film teaches nothing if not patience, not only in the viewer, but in the artist. It is a documentary about a painter who spends September through December painting a quince tree. Not a picture of one, mind you, or even one he has memorized. He sets up an elaborate system so that he can paint the tree as it exists before him. We see him working well at first, with the sun hitting the tree and its fruit exactly how the painter wishes. But then the weather becomes uncooperative for a long period of time. It's cloudy or rainy, and the sun is not working the way that it's supposed to. By the time it becomes sunny again, the Earth has moved, and all hope of painting it in the way he originally intedended is squandered. Of course he can't just wait until the next year. The fruit and leaves will be different.

During the film, there are several discussions about art and life. All are interesting. Too bad the subtitles on the Facets video are kind of hard to read at times. There is a lot to get out of it, surely more than I did in one viewing. A second viewing is definitely in order if I have time before I have to return the video. It is one of those films that suggests that there is a ton more under the surface that will take just a tiny bit of digging. Of course, this film would bore the socks off of 99% or more of the population. I definitely suggest it to fans of Spirit of the Beehive. Also, fans of Andrei Tarkovsky should check it out, this and Spirit of the Beehive. I generally think of Tarkovsky as the most original of all film artists, but Erice may be the most similar. He's a very good auteur for Tarkovsky fans because he is similar, but he has a remarkable essence all his own. Perhaps I would consider him above Tarkovsky, if only Erice would make more films. But, as this film has delicately taught me, an artist must work at his own pace. 9/10.

This is one of the two simple films about art that made deep impact on me since their releases even after all these years.

Victor Erice's "The Quince Tree Sun" is probably the most boring film you'll ever watch, but just as the artist finds it impossible to capture the shifting sunlight, we realize it is no longer important to finish a piece of painting, if at all it is possible, as art is in the process not the result. We consciously experience the passing of time while watching the film! Brilliant.

Patricia Rozema's "I've Heard the Mermaids Singing" deals with the subjectivity of art which is always relevant in any context. The master's childish art is readily being celebrated and consumed like fast food while the amateur's masterpiece is undiscovered but remain sacred. It reminds us to keep true art away from the corruption of consumerism.

Both films allow art to be taken to a different level, beyond the reaches of physicality and commercialism.