AW: M/Other

[Roger Fischer]

Jasper
I saw M/OTHER at the Rotterdam Film Festival with Dutch subtitles (I don't
speak Dutch!!!) starting around 11 P.M. with an introduction by Tony Rayns
and a short Q and A between him and Nobuhiro Suwa.
Because it was Dutch, I wanted first to get out (it's no movie packed with
frenzy action, where dialogue is quasi absent) but then I stayed...

As I get out of the movie theatre, I was sure to have seen one of the most
important films in the 90s. I think most of the list who have seen it, would
agree with me.

It's a film that goes way behind the ones of Cassavetes. Suddenly Cassavetes
films seem much more staged, more "recherché", whereas Nobuhiro Suwa gets me
much more direct in my middleclass style of life. Its honesty and
objectiveness are total.

Now after having seen it I look at filmmaking in new ways. And isn't that
what great pictures are all about. They open up new doors of perception. If
you are a filmmaker, then M/OTHER is a gift.

It seems like I am overdoing it a little bit (fan talk seems to be only for
animes or blockbusters!?), but that where my feelings when I walked to my
hotel at 2 in the night.

Go and see it!

Best regards
Roger


Roger Fischer
Tel. ++41 1 401 36 39
Email  roger.fischer at active.ch


-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: owner-KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
[mailto:owner-KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu]Im Auftrag von Jasper Sharp
Gesendet: Mittwoch, 23. Februar 2000 11:37
An: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
Betreff: M/Other

Hello,
Nobuhiro Suwa's 'M/Other' is playing in Amsterdam at the moment, and the
only info I have for it is in the Rotterdam Film Festival brochure. I walked
all the way into town to see it on monday night before seeing that it was
147 minutes long. My cinematic concentration span seldom reaches beyond 2
hours and I had no desire for another 'Eyes Wide Shut' experience so walked
back home to watch 'Eastenders' instead (also I wasn't too impressed with
Takahisa Zeze's 'Hypnotic' which screened the night before, so was easily
tempted into a Japanese film-free night). However, when I read Mark
Schilling's review (in his 'Contemporary Japanese Cinema') of the same
director's '2/Duo' my curiousity was piqued again. So basically what I'm
asking is, has anyone seen it and do they have any opinions?

Thanks

Jasper Sharp