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Shoah is without a doubt,one of the most powerful documentaries dealing with the thorny subject of the Holocaust you'll ever see. Unlike previous documentaries such as 'The Sorrow & The Pity',there is absolutely not frame one of any Holocaust victims on display,but the testimonies of those who were directly & indirectly involved with the Holocaust,through interviews. The film was shot over a period of several years,and hundreds of interviews,as well as present day footage of some of the surviving camps,such as Dauchu,that have been preserved as a reminder of the horror that happened,and should never happen again (although sadly does,even in this day & age in other countries & cultures). As a result of this, the film clocks in at nearly ten hours. Most cinemas that have had the bravura to screen 'Shoah' has either screened it in two parts (as the version that I saw in it's initial U.S. release),or in the case of New York's Film Forum,which has two screens,ran each part in separate cinemas, in staggered screenings with staggered times). This is a film that will generate deep conversation with any audience that sees it,as well as controversy. This film is not rated by the MPAA,but contains graphic & disturbing testimony of Nazi war atrocities that will haunt the viewer for a long time afterward. Not a good choice for very young children,but older teens that are interested in studying the Holocaust should see it.

Stan Brakhage may,or may not have been a visionary with his view on cinema (there were other early experimental film makers that implemented various experiments on film,i.e. painting on the film,abstract editing,etc.),but he was one of the most well known,as his films were getting attention about the same time as his contemporaries,such as Jonas Mekas,Andy Warhol,Jack Smith,and others (plus Mekas had his cinema in the East Village that screened those experimental/underground films in the early to late 1960's/early 1970's). Brakhage's 'Prelude:Dog Star Man',as well as the subsequent segments over the next few years is a film to be experienced (preferably in it's entirety,in one screening). It is a series of abstract images,that convey a lyrical feel to them. I had the rare open window of opportunity a few years back to see it,all together in one screening,with a live sound track by an ensemble of musicians (including Lee Renaldo,from Sonic Youth,and master percussionist William Hooker)at Real Art Ways,in Hartford,Connecticut a few years back,and was blown out of my shoes by it. Don't try to make any kind of sense out of it (just sit back & be dazzled by it's use of random images). Obviously not rated by the MPAA,but does contain a few images that could be unsettling to some.

Pere Portabella's films have never been easy to (logically)pinpoint, nor to find,as he has been adamant about his films not being released in any video format,what so ever (no VHS,no DVD,no Blue Ray,no nothing),so finding one of his films is not the easiest. If you can find a cinema that is featuring a revival of one of his films...by all means,go see it. 'Pont de Varso'via' (or,Warsaw Bridge,as it is better known as)is one that will either entice one,or totally enrage them. 'Bridge' is Portabella's diatribe on life & art,told in a series of beautifully photographed images that will remind some of the more surreal films of Luis Bunuel (who he worked with in later years),such as 'Exterminating Angels' (not the French piece of pseudo/quasi porn s**t from a few years back),or 'L'Age Dor'. It also reminded me of Matthew Barney's Cremaster Cycle from some years back. Don't try to find a plot (in the traditional sense,anyway),as 'Bridge' is a series of disconnected images that convey a lyrical feel. The use of music is well done,as well (lots of neo classical music). If you're looking for something that's way left of centre,you can't do much better than 'Warsaw Bridge'. Not rated by the MPAA (the American distributors didn't bother to submit it for a rating),this film contains both female & male full frontal nudity,as well as some rude language. Probably not a good choice for the little ones (who would only be bored,as well as confused by the various goings on,anyway)