Is there life between hell and heaven?
How to feel the line between prohibition and permissiveness? We are often in limbo, not knowing what to do, like the heroes of the drama "Meteora" / "Metéora" directed by Spyros Statulopoulos (Germany, France, Greece, 2012).
"Meteora" tells a new story of Adam and Eve, which is embodied in the images of the Greek monk Theodoros and the Russian nun Urania. Between them, a feeling flares up in the temple on Mount Meteora (translated as "soaring in the air").
Their forbidden love is fabulous and earthly at the same time. The harsh monastic reality in which it was born contrasts unusually with fantasy animation. It is like a bright flash of emotions and thoughts of the heroes, as opposed to the ascetic life. The calm atmosphere further reflects their concentrated and hard struggle with themselves.
Perfectly selected actors (Theo Alexander, Tamila Kouliyeva-Quarantinaki) show the deep feelings of the characters. Balancing with them between freedom and despair, the viewer feels tension. It gradually grows and breaks out in the scene of love. At the same time, the relationship between Theodoros and Urania is shown very beautifully, neatly and does not cross the line of subtle eroticism. The heroes seem to descend from the sky-high heights of Meteora to the ground. It is up to them to decide how they will dispose of their future life.
"The mutual aspirations and carnal desires of the heroes should not be perceived solely as sins. The heroes quarrel, fight with each other; they have yet to find their place in this life. They are at the crossroads where they have to make a decision" - director S. Statulopoulos
"Meteora" is a rare film that leaves behind a bright feeling. It is filled with that purity and naturalness, which are so lacking in modern paintings. Most of them reflect precisely the rough sexual side of the relationship.
The picture is out of time, showing the eternal problems of choice, torment of people between heart and mind. This is not so much a religious as a life picture about the multifaceted soul of a person.
Text: Natalia Pushchinskaya
Does love have two sides?
Is love a gift? But what are we to do with it - accept or reject? The film "To the Wonder" (USA, 2012, directed by Terrence Malik) presents each of us with a difficult choice.
We see heroes, ordinary people who slowly float with the flow of life, but strive to find their little happiness. Marina (Olga Kurylenko), a fragile girl who dreams of a strong feeling, meets the indifference of her young man Neil (Ben Affleck). He is cold and cannot express his attitude towards Marina. Her love is like a rose, just as beautiful, but withering without the sun. The heroine seeks warmth and attention, falling into the arms of another man. But we see pain in her eyes and feel the experience. Her passionate female essence remains undisclosed. Neil starts dating Jane (Rachel McAdams), but he cannot make her or himself happy.
Fate seems to be testing the heroes for strength, then pushing, then separating them. Together with them, we get entangled in a complex tangle of relationships. Sometimes it seems that Marina and Nile are a single whole, and then we see on the screen a serene sky, green trees, so close we hear their rustle. They seem to whisper to us about harmony. When the heroes are worried, a strong wind appears, which tears leaves from the trees, and a seething stream of water. It suddenly falls upon us. Joyful shots of summer give way to dull autumn. Likewise, relationships go through ups and downs - nature itself tells us about it.
Feelings between the characters are silence, sometimes happy, sometimes tragic. Only short phrases thrown into the wind, glances in the eyes and light touches - everything is filled with meaning. We find ourselves in a world where the moods of Marina and Nile subtly shimmer. The camera creates an intimate space by smoothly following them, examining the curves of their bodies during intimacy. Love is reborn on the screen to the accompaniment of beautiful and strong music, and we cannot take our eyes off it.
“Do you think your love has faded? Could it have become something more?” The film asks us.
The heroes are looking for an answer to this question. But it's so hard to find. The film "To a Miracle" is a discourse about the eternal. Seems like love - this is the divine principle that sleeps in each of us, but we so want to awaken it, feel it with our soul and body, like a miracle.
Text: Natalia Pushchinskaya
Path to freedom
Remain human despite no matter what. The semi-documentary film-experiment "Caesar Must Die" / "CESARE DEVE MORIRE" calls for this (directors: Paolo Taviani and Vittorio Taviani, Italy, 2012)
The painting "Caesar Must Die" / "CESARE DEVE MORIRE" - the winner of the 2012 Berlin Film Festival (the highest award "Golden Bear").
This is the tragic story of life-sentenced prisoners who play Shakespeare's Julius Caesar within the gray walls of the Rebibia maximum security prison in Rome.
The film is a journey into the depths of a person's soul, which, together with the heroes, is made by the viewer. He goes the hard way from the darkness of prison life to the light of art that transforms him. There is an amazing transformation of black and white into bright colors on the screen. From timidity, tension, to full disclosure and freedom of the soul. The framework of Shakespeare's play is erased, showing real life in which people reveal their inner world: secret experiences, thoughts. They are subtly captured by the camera, down to the details of the eyes, allowing you to delve into the essence of a person and study it.
Before the audience is another, transcendental reality, between the prison world and the theatrical. She carries an atmosphere of rebellion, which turns from a performance into life. Therefore, the film is imbued with anguish and a sense of anxiety. These emotions cannot let go.
Together with them, the strong music of composers Giuliano Taviani and Carmelo Travia sounds, which periodically becomes mysteriously calm, is the calm before the storm inside the heroes. This allows you to sharply feel what is happening in the picture.
On the one hand, the film strips away the masks, showing people as they are, on the other hand, it seeks not to expose their vices, but simply to show the truth about them. This honest approach makes the film genuine and lively. It transforms the small world of a prison cell into a large world where people communicate, rejoice and be sad. Together with them, walls collapse and a new space for art and life is created.
"Caesar Must Die" is a film about the rebirth of light in a man, when he has run out of hope. A story about faith in the best in his soul. A painting that leaves a deep mark inside and allows you to change your attitude towards a person. This is one of the main hallmarks of a decent film not to be missed.
Text: Natalia Pushchinskaya
On the waves of life
Imagine that your life is an ocean. Are you able to subjugate him?
Heroes of the new documentary "Murderous Surfers" ("STORM SURFERS 3D", Australia, 2012, directors: Justin McMillan, Christopher Nelius), professional athletes who strive to conquer the elements.
Little people in front of a formidable abyss that wants to take them with them, but the strength of their spirit does not allow them to retreat back.
Against the background of endless expanses of water, a story unfolds about how the heroes doubt, but overcome themselves, challenge the unknown. Taming the obstinate waves, they feel victory, albeit for a short moment, but finding themselves taken by surprise by boiling water, they are lost. Together with them, we also make our journey, but already along the waves of our own life.
We remember our ups and downs, we think what was and was not implemented. The picture shows that you need to follow your dreams and sometimes take risks in order to realize it. How important it is to catch your wave of good luck and be able to stay on it for the rest of your life.
Text and photo: Natalia Pushchinskaya