There are many films whose proponents will declare "Every shot is like a piece of art". Well for
Damnation I literally took a still from every shot in the film. Given Bela Tarr's penchant for incredibly long takes, he makes this easier than it would otherwise be, but nonetheless, this is a gorgeous film. Tarr is much more well known for his 7 hour epic,
Satantango, and the apocalyptic
Werkmeister Harmonies,, but to say his other work is any less astonishing would be a crime.
Damnation's frames are full of shadows and harsh beams of light, creating ominous, expressionistic scenes. Most of these shots would look right at home in a Film Noir.
Top 3:
 |
| Such a moody image. I love the lighting and forlorn expression on the singer's face. |
 |
| This looks like the kind of bar which is filled with trench coats, cigar smoke and jazz. |
 |
| More great lighting with a striking composition split straight down the centre. |
The rest:
 |
| Now comes the issue of condensing a dynamic art form into static images. This and the frame below are actually in the same shot, with the camera veeeeery slooooowly pulling back from the window in true Bela Tarr fashion. You should really go and watch all of his films to see what I mean. Now. |
 |
| Tarr's near apocalyptic settings are a wonder to behold. |
 |
| This and the shot above are strikingly similar with the left/right dark/light contrast. |
No comments:
Post a Comment