Saturday, 12 October 2013

'TRAGEDY AND FIESTA'

SNOW WHITE

- BLANCANIEVES - 

(2006)

Director: Pablo Berger




Black. White. Silent. Fairy tale. Dwarfs. Bullfighters. All of this in one movie, Berger's Snow White. 



This beautiful and picturesque adaptation includes motifs and symbols from more than just fairy tale. Including different stories and myths and excluding language and dialogue the director made this movie universal. 

With people's faces, expressions, eyes and carefully selected music the director manages to evoke emotions without uttering a single word. 



Every fairy tale is based on the contrast between good and evil, so is this one. In director's words: "The contrast of black and white movie simply represents the contrast between darkness and light, love and hate, good and evil, tragedy and fiesta."


TOO LUCKY?

MATCH POINT

(2005)

Director: Woody Allen





The man who said "I'd rather be lucky than good" saw deeply into life. People are afraid to face how great a part of life is dependent on luck. It's scary to think so much is out of one's control. There are moments in a match when the ball hits the top of the net, and for a split second, it can either go forward or fall back. With a little luck, it goes forward, and you win. Or maybe it doesn't, and you lose.

These are the opening lines of Allen's movie of luck and guilt, movie of passion, temptation and  obsession as the movie poster says itself. Lines spoken by the protagonist Chris, a character who changes from a self-confident but likable person to a cold opportunist. These lines illustrate the main topic of the movie. Being lucky rather than being good. The motif of the ball hitting the top of the net becomes the key motif in the movie giving an intriguing twist towards the end of the movie. 






Being lucky instead of being good is how the protagonist, or the antagonist, perceives life. "You have to learn to push the guilt under the rug and move on, otherwise it overwhelms you." These words illustrate how he works, he manages to push the guilt under the rug with luck on his side. When the ball/ring falls on his side the viewer must ask Isn't he a bit too lucky?