tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5633073330174423544.post736787144522510713..comments2023-02-28T05:27:00.195-05:00Comments on The Sun's Not Yellow: Handcrafted Cinema and Figuring Out Day of WrathJoel Bockohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11238338958380683893noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5633073330174423544.post-78627050139907422612009-11-26T21:50:08.372-05:002009-11-26T21:50:08.372-05:00Thanks, all. Sam - I know you love this movie and ...Thanks, all. Sam - I know you love this movie and have written extensively about it before. I agree with you - I would probably put it in a top ten, at least on the basis of my initial viewing. While the characters are harsh, I agree with Rosenbaum that they have enough shades to them (and enough humanity) that you find yourself sympathizing with them at times.<br /><br />Stephen, I can see why you might initially feel that way, given how muted the conclusion is, but it's that very subtlety which I think makes it pack such an emotional wallop. I've seldom been more moved by the conclusion of a film. It's hard for me to explain why at the moment; I would have to see it again (it's been about 3 years), which I will be soon now that I own it.Joel Bockohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238338958380683893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5633073330174423544.post-16959889045406202632009-11-26T13:16:21.295-05:002009-11-26T13:16:21.295-05:00Happy Thanksgiving to you too MovieMan... Thank yo...Happy Thanksgiving to you too MovieMan... Thank you for pointing to these essays...<br /><br />Cheers!Just Another Film Buffhttp://theseventhart.infonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5633073330174423544.post-13515434335077259972009-11-26T09:31:02.513-05:002009-11-26T09:31:02.513-05:00Day of Wrath is my favourite of Dreyer's films...Day of Wrath is my favourite of Dreyer's films. I felt the ending needed more emotional punch but even so I thoroughly enjoyed it.<br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving to all Americans!Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07036103762441216161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5633073330174423544.post-49547680706588756912009-11-25T23:34:40.457-05:002009-11-25T23:34:40.457-05:00I've seen both these pieces, and they are inde...I've seen both these pieces, and they are indeed worthy of re-posting. As much as I admire IL POSTO, however, Dreyer's film, DAY OF WRATH is one of the supreme masterpieces in the history of the cinema.<br /> Most of the film, which was written by Dreyer and two other screenwriters from the play, "Anne Pedersdotter", is shot in gloomy and claustrophobic interiors with thin rays of light punctuating the dark shadows, a scenario that showcases the superlative black and white cinematography of Carl Andersson, which was surely an inspiration to Ingmar Bergman a decade later. The tranquillity of the film in many sequences never diminishes and oppressive sense of doom, which is a reflection of humorless characters, a society with little room to breathe, and visual allusions to death, including the short journey of a horse cart passing by carrying branches for a burning.<br /><br />It is worth noting that outside of Herlofs Marthe, whose inner character is more ambiguous, no character in the film is even remotely likeable or endearing, a further thematic commentary on the society at large, which discourages free-spirited contentment. The performances in the film, hence are extraordinary in conveying this dire estimation of humanity. The contributions of art director Erik Aaes and composer Poul Schierbeck are considerable, even though the latter’s score was spare in keeping with the serenity of the film.<br /> Few films in cinema history are as disturbing as DAY OF WRATH, fewer still are as extraordinary. Among Dreyer’s select but brilliant output, only the silent The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) is in the same category.<br /><br /> Rosenbaum's insights, always superb, are espwecially "penetrating" as you say, no matter the length.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.com