Siberia

And appropriately I fell asleep halfway through. I did wake up eventually and watch it all but only with a few cups of coffee to keep me going. I usually love Ferrara and thought I could watch Dafoe in anything. This tested that theory to destruction. Oh there are some excellent scenes but on the whole it's just so soporific. Maybe it's all that snow..............................

A strange film that explores the mental landscape of a man struggling with his devastating memories. The filmmaking is of variable interest and boredom points its nose a little too often. Abel Ferrara has a lot of energy and inspiration but does not provide great intensity or great precision of filming here to make up for the lack of a real narration. The camera moves at times in a rather crude way. Dazzling beauties are scattered throughout the film. For example, a very good editing point where Clint (Willem Dafoe) perhaps sees himself entering a room. Madness lurks. You have to take it as a particular trip, not as a very mastered work, and then it becomes an interesting experience beyond the flaws.

This film has no story. It is just a collection of scenes which are sexual, twisted or bloody. I find it quite a torture to watch.

I just watched it at Berlinale festival and liked it. Many people left the theatre during the film. For example when they saw a naked person or something they might not understand. Sure, it's not a Larry wants Harry to meet Barry film. I watched such horrible films. The last days. And this one was beautifully shot. People are not able anymore to just watch and try to understand. They need it all clear and dull. And as soon they see a naked woman they call it sexist, even when it's intention is the complete opposite. It's a philosophical film about life and relationships and also about the human nature and nature itself within its powers way beyond ours. It's episodically filmed with many layers. I'm so saddened about what I experienced around me in the cinema. Ferrara was always edgy and thank god he is. That's art. That's freedom of art. Unpleasant. My favorite film of the Berlinale so far.

Siberia is art, in photography, in directing. People expect to watch a fiilm of good drama told by a mainstream artist. Those ones don't know Ferrara's universe. It's plenty poetry in it!

If you love Bela Tarr's movies or Tarkovskis, or LYNCH's you should watch that. Really powerful and intense poetic, don't try to find a plot, don't go and sit in front of it like you are watching a peaceful drama, because it is not. It is poetry, it has some stunning visuals, sound, OST, Willem Dafoe is allways a tremendous actor.

Run to watch it and you decide if you like it or not. But if you are finding a, plot and a "normal" Movie, avoid it.

Only for those ones who want to go more away than cinema can't (metafisic cinema). Really a cinematic experience, more in the way of MALICK. Really engagging to senses.

7 Stars out of 10.