A Talking Picture
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Movie Reviews of A Talking Picture
Movie Review: Um Filme Falado
Summary: 3 Stars
While I agree with the points made by the previous review (or should I say I disagree with the reaction of the audience at that particular theatre) I disagree to a point on the lack of "realism" of various individuals speaking their own native language and "somehow" understanding one another. I am a Portuguese-American and find it very rare to "discover" a Portuguese-speaking film that is not Brasilian-Portuguese. Which those of Portuguese or Brasilian descent will tell you that the expression of the language is very different. So, when I come across a "continental" Portuguese-speaking film, it has my full attention. Portuguese-made films available in the U.S. are very few and far between. And this is a market of which Manoel de Oliveira has cornered. Whether one is fan of Mr. Oliveira's work or not (Personally, I'm split either way), I am thankful that there are attempts being made by Portuguese directors and actors to make these films and make them available in the U.S. without having to pay an arm and a leg just to purchase a DVD.
Having said all that, regarding a review of the film... it is not terribly "unbelievable" to have such a dialogue take place among Europeans. Since the joining of the European union there has been an inter-mingling of the cultures, foods, currency, and languages of many European countries due to the erasing of borders. I visited Lisbon, Portugal about 4 years ago only to be amazed by the diverse cultures, languages, etc. It's not to say that we Americans do not have this in large populated cities such as New York, etc.
One example I found interesting. Many of the restaurants had menus with 4 or 5 different languages represented. I have yet to find this in the U.S. My father speaks 4 different languages and is a history major, and he found "Um Filme Falado"(A Talking Picture) "believable" for the diverse languages AND the historical accounts of exploration, conquest, Moorish captivity, religious persecution, the effects of England and America on the rest of the world, etc. I could go on and on.
It is not uncommon to be at a table in Lisbon, for instance, and witness this type of exchange. One example, when I was there I was not quite comfortable speaking Portuguese fluently. I was raised speaking it, but my Portuguese is equivolent to that of a 3rd or 4th grader. But I understand it quite well. And someone that I was with spoke fairly good English. So, there were times that both of us would flip back and forth. Sometimes speaking and answering in either language. And their are many Europeans who speak 3 or 4 languages FLUENTLY and do just that. This is something that Americans lack. They may have taken a second language in high school but may have never seen the value of this and did not keep up with it. Some people have a fear of what they do not understand. So they ridicule it or avoid it. (enough preaching)
The movie may be slow at times, but I watched it with the idea that is was a docu-drama. Hey, it's a mediterranean cruise as well. If you've ever wanted to see what it would be like to sail to Portugal, Naples, Istanbul, Egypt, etc., this movie has it! The characters, including the captain played by John Malchovich, prove to be outstanding "tour guides" and "historians."
Movie Review: A Nice Day To Go Traveling
Summary: 3 Stars
It is July 2001, months before the September 11 attacks on the United States. Rose Maria (Leonor Silveira) and her daughter Maria Joana (Filipa de Almeida) are on their way to Bombay to meet Joana's father, who is a pilot. They take a cruise and arrive at such places as Marseilles, Athens and Naples. Rose Maria is a history teacher and loves the fact she is finally able to visit the places she is always teaching about. And she is fascinated by the people she meets and the customs she learns.
At first glance Manoel de Oliveira's "A Talking Picture" seems to be a travelogue piece showing us some of the most beautiful places on Earth. The movie doesn't seem to be about much yet I enjoyed watching the movie.
After you watch the movie try and think back to what happened in the movie. You'll find the movie tells a little story, but, it takes on big subjects. You may also enjoy the film because, like a cruise, it moves at a gentle, calm pace. There is almost something lyrical about the movie. The charm of seeing these destinations and meeting these characters was enough for me to want to finish watching the movie. Some in fact may become so bored with it they won't even wait until the end.
But what is "A Talking Picture" about and why does it matter that it takes place before September 11? Well you see the captain of the ship, John Walesa (John Malkovich) entertains three lovely ladies, all international beauties. They include Catherine Deneuve ("Belle de jour", "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" and Truffaut's "The Last Metro), Stefania Sandrelli (star of several Bertolucci films; "The Conformist", "Partner" and "1900", she also appeared in "La Chiave (AKA The Key)" and Irene Papas ("Z" and "Zorba the Greek"). These four people all speak different languages and yet they understand each other. They talk about world topics, such as politics. At this point in the film the movie addresses terrorism and has a chilling conclusion that makes the movie seem all too real.
I realize after watching the movie some may find the conclusion pointless and ask themselves what was this all about? But if you think it over you will see the movie has a universal message. And its appeal should not be limited to a selective audience.
The movie was nominated for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and is the lastest film from the now 96 year old Oliveira. I have yet to see any of his other films but I could tell just by watching this movie he is a man of extraordinary talent. I hope many of you come to enjoy this film as much or more so than I did.
Bottom-line: Granted the movie is not full of action and moves at a slow pace but it has a certain charm to it that won me over. There is something gentle and calm about the movie. Plus the locations are amazing.
Movie Review: Good for about 25 minutes
Summary: 3 Stars
At the age of 93 (2003), Manoel De Oliveira decided to make a film that would offer the sensuality of travel, the beauty of mythology, the innocence of a child, and the heady intellectualism of a salon. The resulting film, A Talking Picture, is a tall order, even for a film director whose accomplishments span decades of writing, directing and producing.
In order to combine these broad stroke goals, Manoel De Oliveira created a conversation-filled film in which a beautiful history professor and her daughter travel by ship from Portugal to Bombay, stopping at historic sites. At each site she teachers her daughter, in a melodic, chimeric voice, about the past, how it ties to the present, in a language that is understandable to children of all ages. To infuse the salon, Oliveira throws in a sea captain (poorly cast with John Malkovitch) and three vibrant women, talking politics--personal and worldly, a la 'My dinner with Andre". To make it even more cosmopolitan, each character speaks in their own tongue.
With all that conversation, history and thought, why does this movie fail? The intellectual banter is too heady, incongruent, and dated, and John Malkovitch is downright creepy. The movie has no tempo, so there is no sense that we are going to actually learn anything.
What works: the sweetness of teaching the daughter about mythology, history, how the past intertwines withthe present. The beautiful backdrops of port of calls. If Oliveira had simply left this a sort of travelogue film it might have had a chance of working.
The film's first 20 minutes or so is worth watching. Enjoy that part and then shut down the DVD player.
Movie Review: Not incredible, not horrible
Summary: 3 Stars
WARNING: If you haven't seen this, be aware some other viewers have damn near spoiled the film by giving away too much. Proceed with caution.
But the film definitely has a message, and takes it's sweet time getting it across. That's OK, though; the pace is, as someone else said, as relaxing as a cruse. Granted, some things don't ring totally true, but that's OK; the film makes it point through its fundamental and total normalcy. I do think it ended a bit abruptly, however, despite the plot.
Movie Review: A STRANGE PICTURE
Summary: 3 Stars
A Portuguese woman and her young daughter take a Mediterranean cruise ship while absorbing ancient historic sites and artifacts. Slow moving and clinical, the emotionless dialogue and blase photography forces the viewer to concentrate on the history lesson of western civilization, which evolves into a thematic comfort zone of it's own, until the preposterous climax, sure to incite emotion in the unsuspecting, and sedated viewer. "A Talking Picture" leaves one speechless.