For the inaugural post I thought I'd pick a film which lacks in the attention it deserves. The visual style in City of Pirates will be instantly recognisable to fans of Ruiz' 80s output, such as
Manoel on the Island of Marvels and
Three Crowns of the Sailor. The film-makers experiment with a wide range of colour filters and camera tricks to reinforce the present oneiric atmosphere and the colours which de Almeida extracts from the images are incredible. Couple this with Ruiz' ever-astounding surreal imagery and you have my eyes and heart on a plate.
For each film I post about I shall select my favourite three shots and display them at the top of the page, followed by a selection of other ones which I love; probably between 30 and 70 depending on how long the film is and how static the camera.
Top 3:
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| I love so many things in this shot: the cold colour palette cut by the warm bed at the right; the ghostly light streaming in through the window; the child in centre frame, yet lost in his surroundings; the striking image the chair cuts and its long shadow. Beautiful and eerie. |
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| I am very picky about the use of colour filters in films, but this is undeniably beautiful. The look which is achieved here is like a watercolour painting. Yes, this is actually a motion shot in the film, with the waves moving into the beach. |
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| This shot epitomises the playfulness and creativity which Ruiz displays in his visuals. This shot lasts only a few seconds, yet he still got a full set of jaws constructed. |
The rest:
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| Great dreamlike feel to this shot |
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| Amazing reds in this shot to go with the sinister scene |
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| Amazing gloomy colours. The captive looks so small against the captor. |
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| Wonderful stark composition with an effective contrast between the grass and sky. |
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| Random outdoor mirrors look awesome on film. |
