a mix of personal favorites and current thrills --

- solaris: the emotional impact of the cut from the hari and chris weightless interlude [set to bach]to hari's suicide will be one of my last memories.

- the eel: imamura is a genius. this is an empirical fact; much like two plus two equaling four, or water boiling at 100 degrees C at sea level. never has accepting a prepared lunch meant so much. see this in tandem with 'the pornographers', an earlier imamura effort; it's interesting to see how he uses some of the same tropes [if not exactly images] to a much different effect.

- devi: because he's been tagged as a humanist mainly interested in the plight of villagers, it's easy to miss what a complete filmmaker satyajit ray is. this movie, which achieves the non-verbal eloquence of the great silents, is a good place to become acquainted with ray.

- genesis: saw this last week at hopkins cultural program. my first taste of sissoko's work. looking forward to more. 

- nosferatu: shameful confession - i'm talking about the herzog version. when kinski's setting up his new homes in the various crypts, to the overture of 'das rheingold,' this movie reaches a place that speaks to those lonely
recesses. 

- the funeral: the narrator consoling his kids. the instructional video. the extra-marital squabble. the photo happy yet traditional brother. the crematorium. itami's greatest work, and a movie deserving of a wide audience.  