Back in September, I started hearing bits and pieces about this French fantasy film called Holy Motors. Just from the name, I associated it with Holy Rollers, the all-girl roller derby team in Drew Barrymore's Whip It from a few years back. This film, of course, has nothing to do with roller derby, except that it shares the tone of a dark comedy and features weird characters who thrive in the underbelly of life, doing things on their own terms. Also, humor.
Written and directed by Leos Carax, it stars Denis Lavant as a man who plays different roles (the details regarding which are better left unspoiled), showing the audience a series of curious vignettes, costumes, and improbable situations. It received wild applause and awards on the festival circuit, review after rave review popping up on blogs for weeks, yet no one except the reviewers had any idea what it was about. Now we have a trailer and a pretty good idea of what the film does so well: the weird, the uncomfortable, the satirical. Is that... Kylie Minogue? And Eva Mendes is in this? Does she even speak French (from the trailer, it looks like her character gazes enigmatically rather than uses words)? Why is there a giant dog stalking a movie theater?
But I'm hooked. I love the pseudo-neon lettering that appears from behind objects on screen, the camera trickery, the obvious commentary on theatrics and modern media, and the sudden switch from romantic period music to a rollicking anthem by KONGOS that speaks of going on a journey to rid oneself of the false or manufactured ("Confused what I thought with something I felt/Confuse what I feel with something that's real/I tried to sell my soul last night/Funny, he wouldn't even take a bite.").
This teases at cinema at its best: pure art that demands respect while not alienating its audience.
What do you think; will you see Holy Motors based on this trailer?
Written and directed by Leos Carax, it stars Denis Lavant as a man who plays different roles (the details regarding which are better left unspoiled), showing the audience a series of curious vignettes, costumes, and improbable situations. It received wild applause and awards on the festival circuit, review after rave review popping up on blogs for weeks, yet no one except the reviewers had any idea what it was about. Now we have a trailer and a pretty good idea of what the film does so well: the weird, the uncomfortable, the satirical. Is that... Kylie Minogue? And Eva Mendes is in this? Does she even speak French (from the trailer, it looks like her character gazes enigmatically rather than uses words)? Why is there a giant dog stalking a movie theater?
But I'm hooked. I love the pseudo-neon lettering that appears from behind objects on screen, the camera trickery, the obvious commentary on theatrics and modern media, and the sudden switch from romantic period music to a rollicking anthem by KONGOS that speaks of going on a journey to rid oneself of the false or manufactured ("Confused what I thought with something I felt/Confuse what I feel with something that's real/I tried to sell my soul last night/Funny, he wouldn't even take a bite.").
This teases at cinema at its best: pure art that demands respect while not alienating its audience.
What do you think; will you see Holy Motors based on this trailer?
