The Future

I'm going to be a cat lady in the near and/or distant future-- so I loved this movie. I found it rather hilarious, though I don't think that's exactly what the movies angle was. I thought it was interesting how a single stray creature could so drastically alter a person(s) perception of space and time, and their whole world. I think that that idea paralleled well with actual reality. Adopting a pet may sound small, but it's actually a large responsibility-- though it's an animal, you're still now in charge of that pet's life. The same applies to having a baby. There are many challenges that one may have to face, and they can test your limits and make you look at others, yourself, and the world differently. 

The Future

This film is interesting, if not necessarily entertaining, and featured a number of bizarre but oddly realistic scenarios. First, the affair which proves to be the pivotal moment for the rest of the story: faced with self-reflection Miranda July’s character chooses instead to go for a sort of easy, suspended reality which feels always like a dream. The little girl burying herself, the bizarre crawling shirt, the dance which accompanies said shirt and the father’s reaction to it, none of it feels real as if it were a daydream. There is also her boyfriend’s strange obsession and friendship with the very odd old man who shares his furniture; is the character supposed to be a vision of himself in the future and if so why does he actually find it so comforting? I mean, who would aspire to be the guy that sells a used hairdryer and talks too much? Anyways, the film was odd and disjointed and featured prominently a song by Beach House, so I’ll say that I was entertained even if it don’t believe it to have been a very good movie. 

The Future Sucks

I hate Miranda July’s The Future on just about every level. Each character’s actions are defined by a woe is me/self righteous attitude that leaves the viewer only to care for a narrating cat with an irritating and scratchy voice. In my opinion, the film is as deep as a puddle but laughably tries so very hard to come off as thought provoking and insightful. Metaphor by metaphor vagueness and ambiguity grows within the film to the point that the viewer can salvage nothing. To be honest, I really doubt Miranda July has explanations for the script and thought it would stand for itself. Her characters and the world they live in are phony when compared to the realities they are suppose to be portraying and examining. I think it’s a good thing the cat died because living those two protagonists must be more miserable than euthanasia. 

The Five Obstructions

Not until the end of The Five Obstructions did I realize that Lars von Trier was the director of Anti-Christ. For those who have not seen Anti-Christ I will let you in on a secret… it is a GREAT date movie. After viewing the film, I found the idea of the Dogme 95 movement to be fascinating and quickly watched a few Dogme films. The movement does have its negatives and should not be applied universally but does make a unique sub-genre of sorts and is challenging directors to make more unique films. The Five Obstructions is a twist on the Dogme 95 approach and in many ways is quite hilarious and cinematically moving. The documentary style works well for this movie even though I am convinced both directors were acting to portray stereotypic snobbish European directors. And even if they weren’t, well, I still enjoy the movie’s content and still find it comedic. 

Pumzi

This film certainly deserved to be screened at Sundance Film Festival. Not only was this a great film highlighting the modern third world struggle creatively combined with a sci-fi aspect, the film itself raised the bar for up and coming African filmmakers. Reading more into the film, I found that female director Wanuri Kahiu researched classic 1950's films to combine the functional art of African culture with classic techniques of matte painting. Overall, the film was excellent in my opinion, and I enjoyed the revolutionary, trail blazing attitude that it brought.

The Future

Terribly boring film. The only thing I was excited for was the cat and that maybe it would change their self obsessed personalities and save the relationship. But they killed it... Also, I found it ridiculous that adopting a cat would completely change their lives forever. I mean I like the idea that they have to live their lives before settling down, but having an affair/selling plants is hardly living the life. Maybe they were trying to get a message across that I didn't get. Overall I did not like it, but I heard that another film the main actress is in called "Me and You and Everyone We Know" is excellent so I plan on watching that sometime in the future.

The Five Obstructions

I think this documentary was okay, but it wasn't my favorite thing we watched this semester. I think this documentary would have been more enjoyable if you watch The Perfect Human beforehand so you could see more of the changes and creativeness of the different obstructions redone. I thought it was interesting however how Lars sets out to uncover Jorgen's facade as the perfect human and show he is really just a "human human." Though throughout the obstructions Jorgen doesn't make a mess as Lars hoped. And by the last obstruction we find that Lars admits that it wasn't Jorgen, but himself who he was trying to expose. In the letter, Lars writes, " As we all know, it's the attacker who really exposes himself." And he goes on to say that he himself was the one that was obstructed. And if I remember correctly, in the end he sees Jorgen actually as The Perfect Human. So overall I did enjoy it, just not my favorite.