cvetkovski_ikee

It is so beautifully thought film, that it almost seems like an improvisation. Very deep, captivating and honest film leading me to the only question while i was watching it: How old is Malick? I mean, inside? He may be 70 years old, but his films speak about universal feelings. "Song to song" is not a conventional film with a conventional story. It's more of a sad and confessional experience, more of a feeling, an emotion long kept inside, finally made into a form of art.

It's a film about the characters and their constant battle with themselves. The things we don't see, the hell that goes through one's mind, when one is suffering. They are struggling to get better, but it's so sad because we know they won't. They can't get out. It's about the spiritual journey of the characters and not so much about the story. It only goes where the character goes emotionally. Malick doesn't care about the world around the characters or the society. The only worlds "well build" in the film are the character's worlds. That's why the V.O doesn't seem like a technical intervention. It is the core of this beautiful, nostalgic and emotional poem to the ones who are "destined" to suffer.

Maybe we don't see all of this, cause this is not a modern film and our society doesn't deal with emotions anymore. But i don't thing Malick cares for any of this. He literally makes a film for himself, to try to free himself from his feelings and put it into something useful and creative.

The point is, it's not a film to be liked or disliked, cause we, the people can't wait to judge something, and not to try to understand it first. You may just not connect to it. That's it. It's not a memorable film and it won't be, cause after people saw "The tree of life", now they get bored with his concept of filmmaking, seeing all of his films like a sequel to it. I found it as more of a pattern that he found to be able to express himself constantly, by really focusing on his emotions and very honestly and artistically opening his soul to the audience to see it. And why not and judge it. 9/10

Every artist at some point in his life ends up being lost and wants to escape his own reality. He creates his own world by his own rules, lacking inspiration and things to say. Then lying becomes a habit and everything goes out of hand. But in the end of the day, we know that art is about beauty and therefore it has to be about truth. With "8 1/2", Fellini found a way to free himself from all the things that he carried on his back. He opened his heart to the world and broke all the rules of cinema, making one of the best author movies ever.

The subject of the both films is the director's own struggle. However, "Nine", was a totally different film. In my opinion "8 1/2" is about Fellini himself, whereas "Nine" is about Fellini's life seen through Rob Marshall's eyes. It felt like i was watching "8 1/2" in color. Nevertheless, i had some problems with the beginning of the film. It was too long before i caught up with the character's empathy and confusion, until very late in the film, when Kate Hudson "stole the show" with a very brief but amazing performance of a woman from a fashion world. Eventually, every woman in the film brings different tone and shape of Guido's world. They are all part of his chaotic life.

"Nine" obviously does not have the depth of "8 1/2", but the musical sequences which intersect the narrative, every time some of the characters want to confess something, give the film a more playful and cheerful tone. I found them very helpful for the story and liberating at time. Daniel Day Lewis did a really good job as Guido Contini, being a confused but lovable director, who lost his touch with reality by wanting to be everywhere at the same time, when in the end ends up being in a labyrinth of lies. "Nine" is also some kind of American tribute for the Italian neorealism, one of the best and sexiest periods of cinema as well.

This is a film about every person who is lost and finds it very difficult to be present in his own reality. It's always hard to make your work personal, but that's the only way. Thus, you never have to lie. It is very important for an artist not to lie, and most important is not to lie to himself. 8/10

It's been 20 years since the war in Yugoslavia, and the hate between the two nations has been growing like a balloon. The people who used to live in harmony and love for almost 40 years, are now living in animosity, that being their everyday life. Thus, whoever dared to speak about this subject or even try to forget or forgive, has been criticized from the both sides and named as traitor. Living in that kind of environment for that long must have been frustrating and agonizing and leave no space to make progress.

This film is dealing with all the frustrations and emotions of the people affected by the war. It shows that a war can last longer in our heads after it is finished. Everyone can relate to this story. Everyone who is "on the other side". It is about love and hate, and how love can easily be replaced by hate and grow even bigger. Through two very complex and vulnerable characters, placed in three decades, Matanic shows us the layers and consequences of the war. The first story is about love, the second about hate and the third about forgiving and loving again. Being in the same age in all three stories, the characters represent the subconscious that war evoked in the people's minds. So, we either end up loving again or dying slowly with hatred in our hearts.

It's beautifully shot film, with long and captivating shots portraying the reality of every character and holding to their emotions. The actors are the highlight of the film, taking every scene and making us bear with them all the time.

It is a very brave film that want us to close the doors to nationalism and make a step forward to humanism.

A lot of films tried to portray the war in Yugoslavia, but i guess none of them could speak from the heart. "The High Sun" finally does exactly that. Dalibor Matanic finally breaks the silence and shows us the only way there is and ever been. Love. 9/10