Here

HERE is not likely to be a phenomenal box office hit - nor does it seem to be intended for that. This extended (126 minutes) visual, poetic, philosophical experience is more an unwinding meditation about the beauty of Armenia and the crisscrossing of two lives of people who happen to encounter each other and find more definition of their own direction through a slowly developing love story. The film's opening moments are visually blinks of light and color and barely recognizable landscape as background to some lovely philosophical commentary made by off screen Peter Coyote. It plays like an overture to the story that lies ahead.

Will Shepard (Ben Foster) is an American satellite-mapping cartographer who has been assigned a location in Armenia to adjust the satellite images of this country. He speaks no Armenian and while attempting to order food in a café he is aided by a girl Gadarine Nazarian (Lubna Azabal) who provides translation. Gadarine is a photographer who spends her time on the road, away from her elderly parents and brother, taking artistic photographs: she has had a successful show of her work in Paris. Will and Gadarine chat momentarily but more importantly they connect with a mutually felt magnetism. Coincidences bring them together to travel as Gadarine photographs the countryside and village people and Will works on his meticulous mapping techniques. Their relationship develops into one of passion and filling each other's needs, but at the same time their coming together defines where each of these unique people find their life direction. How the couple close the film is too special to share in a review.

The true star of this film is the cinematographer Lol Crowley who with director and writer Braden King layout the most mysteriously beautiful landscape images: at times there is no dialogue to interfere with the sheer eloquence of the images of Armenian countryside. The musical score is minimal - by Boxhead Ensemble - and that adds to the meditative aspect of the film. Yes, there are scenes where Will and Gadarine interact with other characters and these are sensitive diversions. But basically this is an extended melancholic road trip, taken at a deliberately slow pace to allow the audience to discover the HERE with Will and Gadarine. It seems even longer than its excessive over-two hour length, but at the same time it is a film that refreshes the mind from all the noise and madness of the other current films. Recommended for those who appreciate experimental filmmaking.

Grady Harp