Also, having seen the movie, I'd argue the reference is to the continuing reality of Romania as a police state.
But, thanks for piping up for the Romanian new wave. These films are even grittier and less overtly composed than the classic neo-realist films, but I do think that they are the best films being made in the world today by a given nation.
Joanna
----- Original Message ----- From: "Rory Dufficy" <rory.dufficy at gmail.com> To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2010 5:14:45 PM Subject: Re: [lbo-talk] Open City
I'd second the recommendation of what has inevitably been called the Romanian 'new wave'. Although I'd translate the final film as 'Police, Adjective' ie the title is a reference to Romania's past as a 'police state'.
On 17 December 2010 11:53, <123hop at comcast.net> wrote:
> I do understand your objection to ranking. But there are different impulses
> behind praise.
>
> When I praise a movie, it is because I am in love, not because I want to
> build another canon.
>
> By the way, if you have never seen the following movies by Satyajit Ray,
> try and do so before you die (preferably on a real screen.)He was the
> neo-realist director of India:
>
> The Apu Trilogy
> Devi
> The Middleman
>
> Also, recent films from Romania are the next chapter in neo-realism and
> deeply interesting. They're ok on video:
>
> The Death of Mr. Lazarescu,
> Four months, three weeks, and two days
> Bucharest 12:08
> Policeman, adjective
>
> Joanna
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Carrol Cox" <cbcox at ilstu.edu>
> To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
> Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2010 4:15:00 PM
> Subject: Re: [lbo-talk] Open City
>
>
> But I definitely don't remember it as one of the great Neo-realist films:
> it
> pales in comparison to Bicycle Thief, Umberto Di, Bitter Rice, or La Terra
> Trema.
>
> =====
>
> My own kneejerk response has always been something like "The Bicycle Thief"
> is one of the two or three greatest films ever made.
>
> But I've been trying since 1960 or so to beak myself of the foolish habit
> of
> "evaluating" movies, novels, etc. One finds oneself going back in one's
> thought to Bitter Rice or Monsieur Verdoux or Birth of a Nation or Streets
> of Sorrow-- but attempts at formal ranking or saying this is the greatest,
> that doesln't measure up, etc is a distraction from actually thinking about
> the item.
>
> Carrol
>
>
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