How many of you have seen a silent movie? Some of us may remember Kamal's Pushpak. But apart from that can you name any other movie?
I recently saw two silent movies. Back to back. I have to say I was moved by the talent. When expressing the feeling voice modulation plays a huge part. but without the voice can a movie really touch your heart? (I wish Akshay kumar never acted ina talkie movie but then I can simply mute him... Same goes with Himesh's songs.) The answer is yes. Two propaganda movies, two silent propaganda movies turned out to be two of the finest movies I have even seen.
The first one is "Battleship Potemkin" by the immensely talented Sergei Eisenstein. It was released in 1925. This is one helluva movie.I am proud to say that I own a copy.. It is about sailors on a battleship protesting against the way they are treated. They refuse to eat the poor quality of food being served. In this mutiny, their leader is killed. The people mourn his death. During the gathering, the tsarist soldiers massacre the citizens. Finally the soldiers who were ordered to bring the rebels to "justice" refuse. The soldiers cheer their victory. The movie had a very strong message against the tsar rule. The movie failed to attarct people but become critically acclaimed. It is said that Himmler was scared that his army may get influenced and banned the army from watching the movie, eventhough Goebbels adored it.
The second one is "Metropolis". Directed by Fritz Lang and released in 1927, it came under heavy criticism by movie critics. The film shows the evil of capitalism. It is a love story as well. Between a rich man's son and a worker lady. It also has the conflict between two friends turned enemies. Im not going to write the entire story. you can probably get it from Wikipedia. The movie is significant for the way it has been shot. The lightings seem weird for us who have seen movies liike Avatar and other fantasy movies. But do not in any case, stop watching it. A marvellous movie. Recently they have found a copy which has additional scenes> the copy has been restored, they say. I cannot wait for the day it gets released here.. If it gets released here. Else we always have internet.
Both the movies are marvellous. There hasn't been a 'top movies' list without these two. These were the pioneers who showed us that movie making can be a skillful art rather than just entertainment or in those days, achievement. Both are pre-1930 movies which, even after 80 years still mesmerize you. We should be thankful to the brilliance of the people who made them possible.
I recently saw two silent movies. Back to back. I have to say I was moved by the talent. When expressing the feeling voice modulation plays a huge part. but without the voice can a movie really touch your heart? (I wish Akshay kumar never acted ina talkie movie but then I can simply mute him... Same goes with Himesh's songs.) The answer is yes. Two propaganda movies, two silent propaganda movies turned out to be two of the finest movies I have even seen.
The first one is "Battleship Potemkin" by the immensely talented Sergei Eisenstein. It was released in 1925. This is one helluva movie.I am proud to say that I own a copy.. It is about sailors on a battleship protesting against the way they are treated. They refuse to eat the poor quality of food being served. In this mutiny, their leader is killed. The people mourn his death. During the gathering, the tsarist soldiers massacre the citizens. Finally the soldiers who were ordered to bring the rebels to "justice" refuse. The soldiers cheer their victory. The movie had a very strong message against the tsar rule. The movie failed to attarct people but become critically acclaimed. It is said that Himmler was scared that his army may get influenced and banned the army from watching the movie, eventhough Goebbels adored it.
The second one is "Metropolis". Directed by Fritz Lang and released in 1927, it came under heavy criticism by movie critics. The film shows the evil of capitalism. It is a love story as well. Between a rich man's son and a worker lady. It also has the conflict between two friends turned enemies. Im not going to write the entire story. you can probably get it from Wikipedia. The movie is significant for the way it has been shot. The lightings seem weird for us who have seen movies liike Avatar and other fantasy movies. But do not in any case, stop watching it. A marvellous movie. Recently they have found a copy which has additional scenes> the copy has been restored, they say. I cannot wait for the day it gets released here.. If it gets released here. Else we always have internet.
Both the movies are marvellous. There hasn't been a 'top movies' list without these two. These were the pioneers who showed us that movie making can be a skillful art rather than just entertainment or in those days, achievement. Both are pre-1930 movies which, even after 80 years still mesmerize you. We should be thankful to the brilliance of the people who made them possible.
No comments:
Post a Comment